Empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in disasters

  • Empowering culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in disasters

Project Overview

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities face significant systematic challenges when accessing information, resources, and tools for disaster risk reduction and resilience building. This project addresses specific challenges identified in literature and by Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. In collaboration with the generous different CALD communities in Cairns, Queensland and relevant local, state and federal stakeholders, the project has developed a storytelling toolkit for developing disaster risk and resilience building information through a series of consultations and workshops.

To read more about the project and explore the research, click on the links below.

 

 

Project Report

 
CALD Storytelling Toolkit

Storytelling Toolkit

Cultural Creative Galleries

Video Gallery

You can view the full playlist on YouTube here.

Empowering CALD Communities in Disasters Co-creative Storytelling Workshop Research Value
Congolese Community: Collaboration is key

Bhutanese Community: Leadership in Disasters

Congolese Community: Understanding Culture in Disasters
What challenges do CALD communities face during disasters?

Co-developing disaster resilience

Looking to the future

Workshop Gallery

Japanese Gallery Congolese Gallery Chinese Gallery
Bhutanese Gallery Colombian Gallery

 

Project team

Associate Professor Jenny Hou (Lead Investigator)

Professor Greg Hearn (Chief Investigator)

Professor Kim Johnston (Chief Investigator)

Dr Kim Osman (Research Associate)

Michael Bromage (Digital Producer)

Sioux Campbell (Industry Investigator)

Publications

  • Hou, J. Z., Hearn, G., & Osman, K. (2025). Culturally diverse storytelling for inclusive emergency communication: Insights from CALD communities. Journal of Marketing Communications, 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2024.2434048
  • Hou, J.Z., Hearn, G., Johnston, K., Villeneuve, M., Hebbani, A., & Carroll, M. (2025). Embedding humanity in building sustainable community disaster resilience in Australia: A humanistic communication perspective. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 40(1), 48-56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47389/40.1.48
  • Hou, J.Z. (2025). Storytelling as methodology: Intersecting multicultural voices to decolonise public relations. Public Relations Inquiry, 1-22. DOI: 10.1177/2046147X251351363 
  • Hou, J.Z. & Hearn, G. (2025). Navigating co-creative storytelling with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) participants: Ethics, authenticity, and sensemaking. In B. Smith & S. Smith (Eds). Research Methods for the Marginalized: A Communication Approach for Vulnerable Populations. New York: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003521235-4
  • Hou, J.Z. (2024). Storytelling for disaster resilience and community engagement: A practical guide. Briefing Paper Series. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5204/book.eprints.254595

Project funding

Australian and Queensland Governments under the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund (QRRRF) Scheme.

DMRC research program

This project contributes to the research within the following DMRC research program:

Creating Better Digital Futures

 



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