Community Consultations Results Report Cover
InkLab

No worries? Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilience
This landmark report by NSC draws on nationally representative surveys involving more than 20,000 Australians to refelect a whole-of-nation threat perception.
  • Community consultations
  • Climate Change
  • Defence
  • Military
  • Conflict
  • AI
  • Disinformation & Media Manipulation
  • Economic crisis
  • social cohesion
Map of Australia and the regions, with people stnading on it.
ktsdesign, Adobe Stock

Issues Paper: thinking about our national security
This Issues Paper is a conversation starter, to help you think about what you may choose to tell us during the consultation process. Your views matter.
  • Community consultations
  • preparedness
  • resilience
  • Securing our Future
Securing our Future – A ready and resilient Australia, 24–25 March 2026
NSC

Registrations now open – Securing our Future 2026
We’re excited to announce that registration is now live for NSC's flagship 'Securing our Future 2026' conference.
  • Community consultations
  • Securing our Future
  • preparedness
  • resilience
Blueish purple gradient with a map of Australia and a magnifying glass with an exclamation mark in the middle
NSC/InkLab

Two in three Australians worried about ‘national security’ and perceptions of underpreparedness widespread: new national study
Australians are increasingly concerned about the country’s security environment, and most feel the nation is underprepared for the threats it faces, according to new research by NSC.
  • Community consultations
  • Climate Change
  • Defence
  • Military
  • Conflict
  • AI
  • Disinformation & Media Manipulation
  • Economic crisis
  • social cohesion
View of Flinder Station in Melbourne at night.
Niko nguyen on Unsplash

Amid rising security concerns, Australians prioritise safe and peaceful communities
Early data from the NSC’s nationwide Community Consultations initiative shows how everyday Australians feel about national security issues.
  • Community consultations
  • preparedness
  • resilience
  • National security
Group of people sitting in circle
Jacob Lund, Adobe Stock

ANU National Security College launches Australia-wide consultations on attitudes to security
In a first-of-its-kind study, NSC will undertake nationwide consultations to understand Australian attitudes to security.
  • Community consultations
Professor Rory Medcalf delivering the 2025 Sir James Plimsoll Lecture
NSC

Time to talk: Australian resilience and preparedness in the new world disorder
Transcript of Professor Rory Medcalf's address at the 2025 Sir James Plimsoll Lecture.
  • preparedness
  • resilience
  • National security
  • Securing our Future
  • Community consultations
Double exposure portrait of an Australian family
Image by Caseyjadew, Adobe Stock

First Nations’ perspectives on national security
This report by Pascale Taplin summarises discussions with several First Nations people of northern Australia, including the Torres Strait, about their attitudes towards national security.
  • Community consultations
  • First Nations
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • Torres Strait
  • National security
Voices from across Australia cover
NSC/InkLab

Voices from across Australia: Community Consultations Engagement Report
Drawing on in-person consultations across the country and 100 written submissions, this report captures how Australians understand national security in their own words.
  • Community consultations
  • Climate Change
  • Defence
  • Military
  • Conflict
  • AI
  • Disinformation & Media Manipulation
  • Economic crisis
  • social cohesion
The National Security Podcast
17 Jul 2025
The National Security Podcast

A decade at the helm: in conversation with Rory Medcalf

In this episode, Rory Medcalf joins David Andrews to look back on the past decade in which he has served as Head of the ANU National Security College (NSC). They discuss the evolution of global threats over this period and how NSC has shifted its work to respond. 

Acast
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
Professor Rory Medcalf with Senator the Hon Penny Wong
Rohan Thompson/ANU

ANU to lead national consultation on Australians’ view on security
First-of-its-kind program to provide comprehensive insight on the nation's attitudes to national security.
  • National security
  • Securing our Future
  • Community consultations
NSC staff at Securing our Future: a ready and resilient Australia
Rohan Thomson

Message from the Head of College: March 2026
Professor Rory Medcalf reflects on NSC's Community Consultations Reports, the Securing our Future conference and other important work by the College in March 2026.
  • Community consultations
  • Securing our Future
  • resilience
  • preparedness
Local community members in Yuendumu, NT.
Pascale Taplin

Voices from Northern Territory on national security
The NSC Community Consultations team travelled to the Northern Territory to hold important conversations with local communities and organisations in Darwin, Alice Springs and Yuendumu.
  • Community consultations
  • Indigenous Peoples
  • National security
  • social cohesion
The National Security Podcast
02 Apr 2026
The National Security Podcast

No worries? What Australians think about security, risk and resilience

In this episode, Rory Medcalf, Tom Rogers and Tim Wilford join Sally Bulkeley to discuss the findings of NSC’s Community Consultations Report – Australia's first comprehensive research report, examining Australian attitudes to national security, and perceptions of risk and resilience.

Listen now
Spotify
Apple Podcasts
An MQ-28A Ghost Bat is loaded with a NAIM-120 inert air-to-air missile variant at the ordnance loading area during Trial Kareela at RAAF Base Woomera, South Australia.
AC Ivan Smotrov

This is a big step forward on defence for Australia. Too bad we’re playing catch-up
Professor Rory Medcalf comments on Australia's 2026 National Defence Strategy. He discusses the steps forward, playing catch-up, and questions left open on the alliance and preparedness.
  • National security
  • National Defence Strategy
  • Defence
  • preparedness
  • Geopolitics and Regionalism
  • Aus-US alliance
  • Community consultations
David Bolton, Dr Carolyn Bull and Ema Vueti
David Bolton, NSC

From Brisbane to the bush: NSC in Queensland for Community Consultations
NSC’s Community Consultations team travelled through south-east Queensland talking to locals about key issues.
  • Community consultations
  • preparedness
  • resilience
Sally Bulkeley, Dr Helen Haines MP and Sharryn Parker
NSC

From city streets to country roads: NSC in Victoria for Community Consultations
The NSC team travelled to Victoria to engage in NSC in Community Consultations.
  • Community consultations
  • Social licence
  • National security
  • social cohesion
  • preparedness
  • resilience
Sally Bulkeley, Kieren Perkins and Brooke Mayfield
Sally Bulkeley, NSC

From poolside to policy: Kieren Perkins swims into strategic waters
The NSC Community Consultations team were privileged to meet Kieren Perkins, Chief Executive of the Australian Sport Commission.
  • Community consultations

So much news: a mid-year review with Rory Medcalf and Susannah Patton
Rory Medcalf interview | ABC Radio National

The security gap Australia can’t afford to ignore
Bec Strating and Elise Stephenson | Lowy Institute

Two in three Australians worried about national security
Rory Medcalf | ANU Reporter

We’re suffering high anxiety over national security
Rory Medcalf | The Australian

Shinrin Yoku or forest bathing: the '80s Japanese practice that is more timely than ever
Tim Wilford interview | SBC

Australians know we’re under threat – and underprepared
Rory Medcalf | SMH