ABSTRACT
Developed countries such as Australia have been less aware of the need for gender mainstreaming in post-disaster policies, while developing countries adopt gender-sensitive practice in disaster areas. This chapter focuses on the experiences of Australians following the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009. These fires blanketed the state of Victoria in 2009. Drawing on this research, the chapter argues that gender defines vulnerability in disaster situations in both the developed and developing world and plays a significant role in how people cope with, and adapt to climate crises. It also argues that gender mainstreaming should be mandatory practice and that gender sensitivity be incorporated into actions and strategies designed to assist communities in post-disaster sites. Gender mainstreaming was widely adopted by a number of countries following the Beijing Women's Conference in 1995 due largely to the work of women's transnational networks and non-government organizations.
