Disaster management and climate change adaptation approaches have acknowledged the role of social networks and social capital in building resilience and adaptive capacity. Quantifying and characterising networks and their specific contributions to resilience remains a challenge. 

This paper presents research that combines quantitative data, social network maps and qualitative methods to examine the contribution of social and institutional networks of the Southern Grampian and Glenelg Primary Care Partnership (SGGPCP) members to disaster resilience and climate change adaptation.   The SGGPCP has 20 member agencies that deliver health and wellbeing services across two local government areas in Victoria.  The analysis considers if and how network dynamics, and bridging, bonding and linking social capitals, correlate with stages of disaster management (prevent, prepare, respond and recover) and incremental and transformative adaptation.

The research seeks to help practitioners understand how informal and formal relationships contribute to resilience, including types of social capital, barriers and enablers to relationships and if and how relationships can be supported.  It critically examines the level of network comprehension required for disaster and adaptation planning to prevent exacerbating existing vulnerabilities or inequalities.

The work builds upon existing qualitative studies by providing visual maps and empirical data that highlight pathways for information, collaboration, and service access and capacity development.