Initially studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geography and Earth Sciences, Elsa returned to the University of Newcastle to undertake a Master in Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development.

Elsa has always felt an interest in disaster resilience, since as early as high school.

“I’m particularly interested in ways we can reduce and mitigate impacts from natural hazards and climate change, as well as how we can best adapt to a changing climate.

“I’m also very interested in what we can do to live more sustainably,” Elsa said.

Once of Elsa’s favourite courses was Government Disaster Risk Reduction.

“We learned about ways the Government can help with the preparation, mitigation, response and recovery to disasters.

“As part of that subject, we had to prepare a Disaster Risk Reduction Plan (DRR Plan) for a Local Government Area.

“I found this assignment particularly interesting and useful, as I am working in local government and can use that plan to inform some of my work,” she said.

Currently working as a Strategic Land Use Planner at the Lake Macquarie City Council, Elsa had a number of experiences in the industry while she studied.

She completed practical experience at the Port Stephens Council, where she worked two days a week as a Student Urban and Regional Planner.

“I found it very valuable, as it taught me a lot of things related to land use planning and set me up for the rest of my career.

“It is thanks to that first experience and my university degrees that I got all my other jobs!” she said.

Elsa then took on a part-time job as a Strategic Planner at the Port Stephens Council, continuing to gain experience in the role.

She also gained experience in a private surveying and town planning company, before working as a Graduate Planning Officer at the City of Newcastle Council.

“In this role, I worked one year in strategic/urban planning and one year in development assessment,” she said.

With all these experiences under her belt, Elsa has broadened her knowledge and deepened her understanding of strategic land use planning.

In her current role, she mostly works on planning proposals, which are requests to alter land uses through rezoning or amending development standards.

“One of the upcoming projects I will be working on, as part of a secondment, is a project seeking to increase the resilience of the community to climate related risks in the suburbs from Toronto to Teralba on the western side of Lake Macquarie,” she said.

Looking back on her studies, Elsa believes her time at the University of Newcastle positively impacted her career outcomes.

“My undergraduate and postgraduate degrees definitely helped me get jobs and helped me progress in my career.

“My Master helped me get my secondment opportunity as a City Resilience Officer. It provided me with a very good understanding of resilience to disasters and climate related risks,” Elsa said.

Elsa encourages anyone considering studying at the University of Newcastle to go for it.

“For people interested in disaster resilience and in making the world a better, safer and more sustainable place, I would definitely recommend the Master in Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development.

“It is a very interesting degree and also helps to get a job in the disaster resilience and management field, as well as other related fields,” Elsa said.

Elsa Berger `

Elsa Berger

Initially studying a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Geography and Earth Sciences, Elsa returned to the University of Newcastle to undertake a Master in Disaster Resilience and Sustainable Development.

I’m particularly interested in ways we can reduce and mitigate impacts from natural hazards and climate change, as well as how we can best adapt to a changing climate.