Whole of Home Resilience

The Whole of Home Resilience project was a 14-month pilot program led by the Castlemaine Institute, in partnership with the Resilient Building Council. It was supported by the Victorian Government, Mount Alexander Shire Council, and national disaster risk reduction funding.

This project shows how place-based, community-led programs can improve how homes perform, making them safer, more comfortable, and cheaper to run.

The project has now finished, and the results are available:

Full report: Learnings from the Whole of Home Resilience Pilot for Households in Mount Alexander Shire

Case studies: Four examples showing results for different types of homes in the area

What the project did

In 2024–25, five local assessors were trained and accredited to deliver a new type of home assessment. This assessment looks at both:

  • energy efficiency and comfort
  • risks from bushfire, storms, and floods

This is the first program like this in regional Australia.

The assessors completed 140 home assessments across Mount Alexander Shire. Each household received tailored advice, including:

  • how their home may be affected by natural hazards
  • how energy efficient and comfortable their home is
  • practical upgrades suited to their home
  • costs, benefits, and what to prioritise

Every home received a different set of recommendations, showing that on-site assessments can accurately identify what each home needs.

What was found

The results showed that:

  • many homes are vulnerable to bushfire and storms
  • homes are often too hot in summer
  • there is a wide difference in performance between homes

However, the study also found strong positives. Using the Victorian Residential Efficiency Scorecard:

  • most homes performed better than the state average
  • only 6 homes were below the Victorian average of 3 stars
  • 111 homes were rated between 6 and 10 stars, showing high performance

Improving homes in this way can:

  • lower energy bills
  • reduce cost of living
  • improve comfort
  • reduce risks from natural disasters
  • lessen impacts on energy systems and the wider community

Why on-site assessments matter

The project showed that on-site, in-person assessments are one of the best ways to understand a home and plan upgrades.

Assessors can:

  • identify simple, low-cost fixes
  • suggest longer-term improvements
  • explain options clearly based on the specific home

As one participant said:

“An impartial assessor can point out things that can easily be fixed, as well as longer-term actions. Talking it through in person helps clarify what to do next.”

Assessors also noted the value of a fresh perspective:

“Having a trained assessor often brought new awareness to risks or opportunities that hadn’t been considered.”

Participants said they found the process practical and motivating:

“Being able to talk through my house with an expert really helped me prioritise. I was surprised how simple and low-cost some improvements are. I now have a clearer plan and feel ready to take the next steps.”

What improvements look like

The project found that energy efficiency and resilience often overlap, especially in the building structure.

Common upgrades that improve both include:

  • sealing gaps and draughts
  • installing better windows or glazing
  • adding shutters
  • managing vegetation around the home

These combined improvements can deliver strong results for both comfort and safety.

What happens next

The final report recommends expanding this approach across central Victoria. This would include:

  • training more local assessors
  • improving access to hazard data
  • providing stronger community support programs

 

 

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