Heatwaves have been a growing concern for Australia, being the most lethal natural hazard. Beyond excess mortality, heatwaves drastically decrease wellbeing and productivity. Further significant challenges include electricity blackouts, rising electricity prices and energy poverty due to the increased peak cooling demand in cooling-focused States, and increased water demand especially in States suffering from water scarcity.

Wellbeing problems can be prevented by adaptation techniques, some of them using additional energy and water and increased building heat stress resistance. Nevertheless, heatwaves have been mainly researched and consequently managed in a fragmented manner across different disciplines. The paper discusses the assessment of heat stress resilience through the negative impacts, such as morbidity, excess electricity and water use; and its three elements, including vulnerability, adaptation and the heat stress resistance of the built environment in Adelaide.

The connections between the impacts and the elements were confirmed in a combined analysis based on the daily datasets at a metropolitan scale of morbidity, electricity demand, water supply and ambient temperature between 2007 and 2014, and a representative online survey about heat stress resilience.

A high level of adaptation was reported, though in different ways across social groups. People with pre-existing health conditions and tenants were found the most vulnerable. Although specific heat stress resistant features could decrease wellbeing issues, the average coping capacity of homes was poor.

The findings highlight the importance of integrated heatwave management considering both short- and long-term adaptation techniques to increase heat stress resistance.

-I'd present at the VCN session.-