Retrofitting for Resilience was a community-based research project exploring how homes, gardens and neighbourhoods can be upgraded to better withstand extreme weather — including bushfire, flood, storm, heat and cold.

Grounded in a case study of Mount Alexander Shire, the project combined policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and household interviews, supported by Policy and Community Reference Groups that helped shape the research, test findings and ensure local relevance. The project was funded by the Victorian Government and delivered in partnership with the Department of Energy, Environment and Cllimate Action and the Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance of local governments. 

Key insights

• Most existing housing is not designed for current or future climate conditions
• Households face barriers including cost, complexity and lack of trusted advice
• Existing programs are fragmented, with limited integration of energy and resilience
• Vulnerable households are disproportionately impacted and require targeted support

The project found that retrofitting is not just a household challenge, but a system challenge — requiring coordinated action across community, government, finance and industry.

The project produced a detailed research report and a practical Housing Typologies and Retrofit Options Guide (workbook) to support households to understand risks and take action based on their home and context.

It established the foundation for CI’s Whole of Home Resilience program, shifting the focus from individual upgrades to a place-based, whole-of-system approach to climate resilience.