[January 2024] New Year Greetings from CLAIR Sydney

On behalf of all the staff at CLAIR Sydney, I would like to wish all our readers a Happy New Year.

Looking back on last year, we believe that face-to-face exchanges between Japan and Australia/New Zealand have resumed in earnest. Specifically, the number of delegations from Japan increased significantly compared to 2023. We had many opportunities to participate in various events, where we reconnected with our partners, confirmed our collaborations, and built new networks. We hope that the flow of exchanges will become even more active this year. We will make all efforts to accomplish our mission.

Bushfires and floods have caused great damage in various places in Australia and New Zealand. In Japan, natural disasters occur almost every year, and a large earthquake hit the Noto Peninsula on New Year’s Day this year. We believe that not only the national government but also local governments have an important role to play in daily preparation for disasters, prevention, and recovery/reconstruction measures. We believe it is meaningful for local government officials from Japan and Australia/New Zealand to exchange information and opinions regarding disaster measures. This aligns with the theme of this year’s CLAIR Forum, scheduled for early March. We will send out another newsletter once the details are finalised. Your attendance will be highly appreciated.

We hope that you will take care of yourself and that you, your family, and the wider communities around you will stay well and healthy in 2024.