HCL's Symplicit helping manage natural disasters

HCL Technologies’ design consultancy, Symplicit, is working to help manage Australia’s natural disasters through its collaboration with the Thriving Communities Partnership (TCP).

The partnership was named ‘Best in Class for Design Research’ during the Australian Design Awards in 2021.

As part of the initiative, TCP engaged Symplicit following the Queensland monsoon disaster of 2019 to help gain an understanding of the far-reaching impact the disaster had on the community.

Symplicit undertook a deep investigation that involved finding about how residents in the local area were affected by the disaster.

“We spent a week in Townsville, gathering stories and learning all we could from the communities there,” Symplicit Director Keith Diamond commented.

“By mapping their stories and experiences visually, we were able to identify opportunities to provide real cross-sector, people-centred improvements for our partners. Symplicit are proud that this research can contribute to supporting communities with disaster prevention, long-term recovery and community resilience. As founding partners, we look forward to continued work with TCP to support.”

The cross-sector Thriving Communities Partnership has members including multiple banks (Westpac, ANZ and NAB), as well as representatives from the utilities sector such as AGL, Yarra Valley Water, the Water Services Association of Victoria, WaterNSW, City West Water, SA’s Energy and Water Ombudsman and Essential Energy.

Other members include Telstra, UTS, ASIC, Beyond Blue, EY and KPMG.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Johan Larson