ABSTRACT
Australia is the driest permanently inhabited continent on earth. The northern parts are subject to summer monsoonal influences, while in the south, winter rains support undergrowth that then dries out in the hot, dry summers. This creates particular risks from fires and associated heatwaves, risks now exacerbated by climate change and global warming.
This chapter explores the risk posed by bushfires and heatwaves to health and health systems as an example of the way in which modern disaster management is challenged and how comprehensive approaches are required that are built on a detailed understanding of the complexities of causation and effect.
