Building a Shared Understanding of Risk Across Auckland’s DWST Teams

On 15 October, the North and South Auckland Disaster Welfare Support Teams (DWST) came together for their first joint training session. The aim of the day was to build a shared understanding of risk across the region, strengthening coordination and preparedness ahead of likely activations.

The session focused on how natural hazards translate into disaster impacts, using the established framing hazard + exposure + vulnerability = disaster. This framework is well embedded in contemporary disaster risk thinking and underpins much of my own academic and professional work. In this context, it was used as a common reference point to support discussion and shared understanding across both teams.

Rather than treating hazards as isolated events, the training explored how specific hazards relevant to the Auckland region interact with patterns of settlement, infrastructure, and social vulnerability. This helped participants connect abstract risk concepts to real places and communities they are most likely to support during an activation.

A key objective of bringing the North and South teams together was to develop collective insight into where and why impacts are likely to be felt most strongly across the region. Understanding exposure and vulnerability provides responders with practical foresight, informing not only where support may be needed, but also the type of assistance communities are likely to require. It also supports reflection on when certain risks are more likely to emerge, reinforcing the value of preparedness and anticipatory thinking.

The joint format created space for shared learning and comparison of local knowledge. Volunteers were able to draw on their familiarity with different parts of Auckland, contributing place-based perspectives that enriched the discussion and strengthened regional awareness. These conversations are critical in building cohesion between teams that may need to operate together under pressure.

From a capability-building perspective, the value of the session lay not in introducing new theory, but in aligning understanding across teams. When responders share a common language around risk, they are better equipped to make consistent decisions, adapt to changing conditions, and respond with empathy to the communities they support.