This publication was developed through a multinational collaboration between the Australian Civil-Military Centre (ACMC), the Centre for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies and Massey University. ACMC would like to acknowledge the Lead Investigator Emily Chapman and the research contributors; Alexandra Nylen, Ahad Bashir, Kethurak Manokram, David Polatty, Adam Levine, Anna Powell, Jim Rolf.
COVID-19 was unique amongst national emergencies in that it affected all sectors of society simultaneously. Many nations have considerable experience in responding to domestic emergencies and events, which disrupt communities and cause harm. In contrast to the COVID-19 pandemic, events are often sectoral or geographical in nature. For example, an emergency response to a hurricane is typically focused in a particular geographical area and the event is not ongoing, as with a viral pandemic.