Attorney-General Nicola Roxon has announced the winners of the Resilient Australia Awards, which recognise innovation in catastrophe mitigation.

“Over the past few summer seasons Australia has experienced natural disasters the likes of which many of us have not experienced in our lifetimes,” she said. “The winning projects show how communities across our nation are developing innovative and creative ways to better prepare for emergencies and disasters.”

The Climate Futures for Tasmania Project, which models the effects of climate change in the state, won the education, training and research category.

Lockyer Valley Regional Council’s Strengthening Grantham project, to create a new community outside flood zones, triumphed in the local government section.

The ACT Emergency Service Agency won the state government category with its Single Point of Truth emergency information system, which uses mobile technology.

The SA Department for Community and Social Inclusion took the prize in the national section with its guidelines for managing donated goods.

The community of Carisbrook in Victoria won the volunteer category with its Pigs Might Fly project, which developed a model for building resilience and community engagement in emergencies.

The Australian and New Zealand Institute of Insurance and Finance was highly commended for its Know Risk scheme, a network of IT tools and information to help people understand and handle practical and financial risk.