The findings from our Community Consultations provided the evidence base for our major biennial conference on 24-25 March, Securing our Future: a ready and resilient Australia. This proved a highly inclusive, democratic and respectful national conversation identifying opportunities for a truly whole-of-nation approach to security, cohesion and preparedness.
NSC
Projects / Initiatives
Community Consultations
About the body of work
Australia is not short of analysis about the unruly world beyond our shores. But if we want to comprehend the risks we face and the opportunities to secure our future, it makes sense to look in the mirror: to know what we think and why.
To that end, between November 2024 and February 2026, the ANU National Security College conducted the most extensive public consultation on national security undertaken in this country: involving more than 20,000 Australians across three survey waves, eight deliberative focus groups, written submissions and close to 500 conversations reaching every state and territory.
What we found will challenge assumptions and can inform us all: governments, parliaments, businesses and communities alike.
Explore the reports
No worries?
This report on Australian attitudes to national security, risk and resilience, draws on three nationally representative surveys (November 2024, July 2025 and February 2026 n=20,000+) and eight deliberative focus groups conducted in November 2025.
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Voices from across Australia
This report – aimed at generating a comprehensive picture of what Australians think about national security – is a qualitative companion report to our core survey-based findings, which are presented in the main Results Report.
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First Nations’ perspectives on national security
This report by Pascale Taplin captures perspectives of First Nations people of northern Australia, including the Torres Strait, towards national security.
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On
This landmark report by NSC draws on nationally representative surveys involving more than 20,000 Australians to refelect a whole-of-nation threat perception.
Drawing on in-person consultations across the country and 100 written submissions, this report captures how Australians understand national security in their own words.
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.
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
Timeline
The Community Consultations initiative from announcement to launch.
April 2024
Community Consultations initiative announced at ‘Securing our Future’ conference
The Head of NSC stated the College would lead an ambitious whole-of-nation consultation: “We will seek to comprehend the diversity of perspectives in today’s Australia, identifying the risks or realities of fragmentation as well as opportunities for convergence. And we will synthesise and frame that knowledge to help government and parliament as they consider policy choices into the future.”
October 2024
Scoping concluded
In addition to briefing key stakeholders on the initiative, and seeking feedback, NSC also visited a range of locations including Far North Queensland, the Northern Territory and Sydney and Melbourne to meet community leaders.
November 2024
Survey 1
NSC commissioned the Social Research Centre (SRC) to collect a nationally representative sample of Australian attitudes to security using Life in Australia™, to provide a baseline for the study.
May 2025
Nationwide consultations commence
Teams of NSC staff and affiliates commenced visiting every state and territory, including a range of metropolitan, regional and remote locations.
July 2025
Survey 2
A follow-up wave of survey work was conducted to build on the existing insights.
October 2025
Nationwide consultations conclude
NSC had engaged close to 500 Australians by this time, from all corners of the country.
November 2025
Deliberative focus groups conducted and submissions close
On behalf of NSC, SRC conducted eight focus groups to help explain key findings from the survey waves and community discussions. These were stratified by life stage and gender.
Submissions closed, with NSC accepting 100 written submissions from the public.
February 2026
Survey 3
A final, more concentrated, wave of survey work was conducted following several significant shocks, notably the Bondi terrorist attack, extreme weather events, and heightened geopolitical tensions.
March 2026
Findings launched at ‘Securing our Future: A Ready and Resilient Australia’ conference
Security starts at home: Australia’s path to preparedness & resilience | Professor Rory Medcalf AM
From borders to browsers: security in the age of online radicalisation | The Hon Tony Burke MP
When crime, politics and power collide | AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett APM
Australia faces multiple 'ruptures' – how should we respond? | The Hon Andrew Hastie MP
Are we ready? Leaders on Australia’s security challenges
Building trust, resilience and belonging in a divided world | Voices from Australian communities
On
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.
