Holding steady in a hard summer: learning, preparedness and community courage

As communities across Victoria continue to navigate a demanding fire season, with extreme conditions already experienced and at least one catastrophic fire danger day behind us, the Immersive Bushfire Experience Foundation (IBEF) is pausing to reflect - with care and humility - on what has been learned so far.

The fire season is far from over. Many people remain on edge, watching forecasts closely, making difficult decisions, and carrying the emotional weight that comes with prolonged risk. It is within this context that IBEF has finalised its Participant Outcomes Report from the 2025 Immersive Bushfire Experience pilot, offering timely insight into how emotional preparedness can support safer decision-making when it matters most.

Between September and December 2025, IBEF delivered 15 Immersive Bushfire Experience workshops across Victoria, engaging more than 160 people living with bushfire risk. The evaluation confirms strong outcomes: over 92 per cent of participants reported increased emotional preparedness, 85 per cent reported clearer triggers for action, and more than 95 per cent felt more confident knowing where to seek support

Participant feedback data post-workshop: 2025 Immersive Bushfire Experience

Importantly, four-week follow-up data shows these insights are not fleeting. Participants described ongoing vigilance, continued monitoring of conditions, strengthened household conversations, and real changes to plans, preparedness actions and decision-making habits.

A snapshot of feedback reveals people taking action in the days and weeks after the workshop:

I have personally for the first time in many years of imploring for others to make their own personal fire plans, started to actually commit mine to writing and to communicate it to those I live with.

I have been consistently discussing the value of the workshop with many many people, in conversation, particularly because we have had some extreme fire danger rated days, a heatwave and now another heatwave and catastrophic day, so fabulous opportunities to impart the knowledge learnt, and the experience itself of VR, and in particular the learnings.

Whilst I have been telling people about it, I continue to learn new things from my experience, reflecting on it each time I am explaining and sharing it with others. These things are helping both myself and my planning and my realisation about what I have learnt, and am continuing to realise and learn from the workshop. The great power of discussion and reflection, continues my learning journey!

I've been out every weekend reducing fuel across the property where I can. I've sat down with my partner and answered every question in the plan booklet. I have attended another local fire session with the CFA and DEECA. I am better aware of my options now and I know to check the fire ratings for the four day forecast. While I am yet to purchase woollen blankets, I do have a box with passports etc ready and a list of items I'd like to grab if I have ample time.

- Anonymous feedback via four-week check-in online survey

When theory meets reality

This summer has already tested many people. Several participants reached out following catastrophic and extreme fire danger days to share reflections on how the workshop influenced their real-world choices. It was so lovely to hear from community members we met on the road and to reconnect with their life stories.

One participant described navigating a catastrophic day with three generations under one roof: calmly reviewing plans together, preparing vehicles and pets, monitoring changing conditions, and being ready to leave if needed. They reflected on the difference between what they had previously assumed they would do, and what they actually felt in the moment - and how emotional awareness, shared decision-making and having options made all the difference.

Others shared how the experience helped them recognise emotional responses such as reluctance to leave, fear of loss, or conflict between loved ones - not as personal failures, but as predictable human reactions that need to be planned for.

These reflections closely mirror the findings of the evaluation: the Immersive Bushfire Experience supports people to bridge the gap between knowing the risk and acting under pressure by rehearsing emotional, social and cognitive load in a psychologically safe environment.

Thank you to our communities

IBEF extends heartfelt thanks to every participant who took part in the pilot: for showing up, entering into difficult conversations with gusto, and reflecting honestly on how bushfire risk affects them and their families.

We are deeply grateful to those who shared lived experience, including people who have survived past fires, and who trusted the workshop space to be respectful, trauma-aware and grounded.

Special thanks go to the community organisers, volunteers and local contacts who worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Your local knowledge, persistence and care were central to the success of this work: from recruitment and hosting through to post-workshop conversations that continue to ripple through communities.

Complementing existing preparedness, not replacing it

The evaluation reinforces what participants and community contacts told us repeatedly: emotional preparedness is a missing layer in traditional bushfire education.

The Immersive Bushfire Experience does not replace CFA or agency-led programs. Instead, it complements them, strengthening people’s capacity to act on advice, communicate under stress, recognise their limits, and make earlier, safer decisions.

Participants consistently described the experience as “confronting but safe”, “empowering”, and “the first time bushfire planning felt real.”

Looking ahead, carefully

Following an intense and meaningful pilot year, IBEF is now focusing on consolidation: strengthening systems, supporting sustainability, and planning next steps responsibly while fire risk remains present.

In 2026, priority will be given to community-led partnerships, ensuring workshops remain locally grounded, emotionally safe and well supported. The Board is also pursuing funding and partnerships to ensure this work can continue sustainably, without relying on donations and goodwill alone.

To everyone who has shared reflections, feedback or requests during this challenging summer: thank you. Your voices matter, and they are shaping what comes next.

From all of us at the Immersive Bushfire Experience Foundation, we acknowledge how hard this season has been, we thank you for your courage and care for one another, and we wish you steadiness and safety in the weeks ahead.

Carol, Dave, Jemima, Rob

The Immersive Bushfire Experience Foundation Board.