Beyond the ordinary

Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)

Australia’s National Weather, Climate & Environmental Intelligence Agency

The Bureau of Meteorology provides essential weather forecasts, climate science, environmental intelligence and hazard warnings to protect lives, property and national infrastructure. It supports emergency services, aviation, agriculture, marine industries, energy systems and the broader community with accurate, timely and trusted information.

WHAT THEY DO

(Navy text on yellow background)

  • Deliver national weather forecasts & warnings

  • Provide climate outlooks & long‑range modelling

  • Support emergency services during extreme weather

  • Maintain radar, satellite & environmental monitoring

 

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

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  • Weather forecasts & severe weather alerts

  • Climate modelling & seasonal outlooks

  • Hazard intelligence for emergency services

  • Water information & hydrological data

Australia’s Weather & Climate Intelligence System

What They Do

  • Deliver national weather forecasts, warnings & severe weather alerts

  • Provide climate science, seasonal outlooks & long‑range modelling

  • Support emergency services during natural disasters

  • Maintain radar, satellite & environmental monitoring networks

  • Provide aviation, marine, agricultural & energy sector forecasting

Why It Matters

  • Protects lives during storms, floods, fires & cyclones

  • Supports national resilience to climate change

  • Enables safe aviation, marine and transport operations

  • Helps farmers, businesses & governments plan ahead

  • Strengthens national preparedness for extreme weather

Key Outputs

  • Weather forecasts & severe weather warnings

  • Climate outlooks & long‑range modelling

  • Radar, satellite & environmental data

  • Hazard preparedness & emergency response support

  • Water information, hydrology & flood intelligence

Weather Forecasting & Operations Division

WHAT THEY DO

  • Produce daily forecasts & severe weather warnings

  • Operate radar, satellite & observation networks

  • Support aviation, marine & transport sectors

  • Coordinate national weather operations

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Forecast products & alerts

  • Radar & satellite data

  • Aviation & marine forecasting

  • Severe weather operations

Climate Science & Environmental Intelligence Division

WHAT THEY DO

 

  • Produce climate outlooks & long‑range forecasts

  • Conduct climate modelling & research

  • Monitor environmental conditions & climate drivers

  • Support national climate adaptation planning

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Seasonal climate outlooks

  • Climate modelling & analysis

  • Environmental monitoring data

  • Climate risk intelligence

Hazard Preparedness & Emergency Response Division

WHAT THEY DO

  • Issue severe weather, flood & cyclone warnings

  • Support emergency services & disaster agencies

  • Provide real‑time hazard intelligence

  • Coordinate national response during major events

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Hazard warnings & alerts

  • Emergency service support

  • Real‑time hazard data

  • National response coordination

Water Information & Hydrology Division

WHAT THEY DO

  • Provide river, flood & hydrological modelling

  • Maintain national water data systems

  • Support water authorities & emergency services

  • Monitor groundwater, catchments & rainfall

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Flood modelling & river data

  • National water information

  • Hydrological forecasts

  • Catchment & rainfall monitoring

 

Digital Systems, Data & Technology Division

WHAT THEY DO

  • Maintain digital platforms, apps & data systems

  • Operate modelling, computing & automation systems

  • Improve data access for industry & the public

  • Support digital transformation across the Bureau

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Digital platforms & apps

  • Data systems & automation

  • Modelling infrastructure

  • Public data access tools

Community Engagement & Public Communications Division

WHAT THEY DO

 

  • Communicate forecasts, warnings & public updates

  • Support media, schools & community groups

  • Improve public understanding of weather risks

  • Lead national awareness campaigns

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

  • Public weather communications

  • Community education programs

  • Media & stakeholder support

  • National awareness campaigns

 

Australian Climate Service (ACS)

WHAT THEY DO

(Navy text on yellow background)

  • Combine climate, hazard, exposure & impact data

  • Support emergency management & national planning

  • Provide climate risk intelligence to governments

  • Strengthen national resilience to extreme weather

 

🟦 KEY OUTPUTS

(White text on deep navy background)

  • Integrated climate & hazard datasets

  • National climate risk assessments

  • Emergency management intelligence

  • Climate adaptation planning tools

OUR STRENGTHS

Scientific & Operational Strengths

  • National leadership in weather and climate science

  • Trusted forecasting and early warning systems

  • Extensive national observation network

  • Strong partnerships with emergency services and industry

  • High‑quality climate modelling and environmental monitoring

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical to national safety and disaster preparedness

  • Essential to aviation, marine, agriculture, and energy sectors

  • Supports national climate adaptation and resilience

 

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Ageing observation and radar infrastructure

  • Outdated digital systems and forecasting platforms

  • Limited real‑time data integration across jurisdictions

  • Slow modernisation of public‑facing services

  • Under‑resourced regional and remote operations

Operational Weaknesses

  • Workforce shortages in specialist meteorology and climate roles

  • Rising complexity of climate‑driven extreme weather

  • Limited outreach to vulnerable and remote communities

  • Increasing demand for tailored sector‑specific services

 

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national radar and observation networks

  • Strengthen climate modelling and long‑term projections

  • Expand digital forecasting and public alert systems

  • Improve First Nations partnerships and knowledge integration

  • Enhance international leadership in climate and weather science

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist meteorologists and climate scientists

  • Improve digital platforms and analytics

  • Strengthen partnerships with emergency services and industry

  • Expand community and regional engagement

 

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Climate change increasing frequency and severity of extreme events

  • Global supply chain instability affecting equipment and technology

  • Public misinformation undermining trust in climate science

  • Growing exposure of communities to natural hazards

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated monitoring technologies

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity during major disasters

 

🇦🇺 THE FUTURE‑READY BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY

A national blueprint for climate resilience, safety, and scientific excellence

Key Problems in Australia’s Weather & Climate System

Australia faces increasing extreme weather events, ageing radar and modelling infrastructure, workforce shortages, and fragmented climate data systems. Public communication during severe weather can be inconsistent, and digital platforms require modernisation to meet rising demand. Strengthening national forecasting capability, hazard preparedness and climate intelligence is essential to protect communities and support Australia’s long‑term resilience.

4. BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY

One national weather and climate intelligence ecosystem

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with emergency services and industry

  • National community and regional engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected national network.

 

5. A SAFER, MORE RESILIENT AUSTRALIA

Protecting communities, industries, and the environment

Key Actions

  • Climate‑resilient planning and early warning systems

  • Hazard and disaster risk modelling

  • Public transparency and open data

  • Community‑led preparedness initiatives

Outcome: A safer, more climate‑ready nation.

 

THE FUTURE‑READY BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY

A national blueprint for climate resilience, safety, and scientific excellence

 

1. FASTER, MORE ACCURATE WEATHER & CLIMATE SYSTEMS

Strengthening national forecasting capability

Key Actions

  • Modern digital forecasting systems

  • Faster severe weather alert pathways

  • Improved radar and observation networks

  • Strengthened coordination with emergency services

Outcome: A more agile, responsive national forecasting system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN CLIMATE CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for climate resilience

Key Actions

  • Specialist climate modelling teams

  • National climate data and projections platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded climate risk and adaptation analysis

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused climate intelligence system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT BoM WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who protect Australia from weather and climate risks

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist meteorology and climate training

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and scientific tools

Outcome: A strong, supported BoM workforce.

 

System‑Level Weaknesses (BoM Overall)

1. Ageing forecasting infrastructure & technology gaps

  • Radar network inconsistencies across regions

  • Outdated modelling systems in some states

  • Limited high‑resolution forecasting capability

  • Slow adoption of next‑generation climate modelling tools

2. Communication clarity & public trust issues

  • Forecasts sometimes lack clarity or actionable detail

  • Public confusion during severe weather events

  • Mixed messaging between BoM, state agencies & media

3. Workforce shortages & capability pressures

  • Difficulty attracting and retaining specialist meteorologists

  • Limited training pathways for advanced climate modelling

  • High workload during extreme weather seasons

4. Fragmented national climate data systems

  • Data platforms not fully integrated across agencies

  • Limited real‑time interoperability with emergency services

  • Historical datasets difficult to access or modernise

5. Slow digital transformation

  • Website and app performance issues

  • Limited automation in data processing

  • Legacy systems slowing innovation

 

🟥 Weaknesses by Sub‑Department

(Using the same structure as your NHMRC sub‑department analysis)

 

1. Weather Forecasting & Operations Division — Weaknesses

  • Radar coverage gaps in regional and remote areas

  • Forecast accuracy varies significantly by region

  • Limited high‑resolution short‑term forecasting

  • Slow integration of new modelling technologies

 

2. Climate Science & Environmental Intelligence Division — Weaknesses

  • Climate models require major modernisation

  • Limited capacity for long‑range seasonal forecasting

  • Insufficient investment in supercomputing capability

  • Difficulty translating climate science into public‑ready insights

 

3. Hazard Preparedness & Emergency Response Division — Weaknesses

  • Coordination challenges with state emergency services

  • Warning systems sometimes lack clarity or timeliness

  • Limited real‑time data sharing during crises

  • Public confusion around alert levels and terminology

 

4. Water Information & Hydrology Division — Weaknesses

  • River monitoring networks inconsistent across states

  • Slow updates to flood modelling systems

  • Limited integration with local water authorities

  • Data gaps in groundwater and catchment monitoring

 

5. Digital Systems, Data & Technology Division — Weaknesses

  • Website and app reliability issues

  • Legacy IT systems slow down innovation

  • Limited automation in data ingestion and processing

  • Difficulty scaling digital services during extreme weather

 

6. Community Engagement & Public Communications Division — Weaknesses

  • Messaging sometimes too technical for general audiences

  • Inconsistent communication during severe weather events

  • Limited culturally appropriate communication for remote communities

  • Public trust impacted by unclear or changing forecasts

 

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core BoM operations: $0.45B

  • Observation networks & radar systems: $0.20B

  • Climate modelling & environmental monitoring: $0.15B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.80B per year

 

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.55B – $0.75B 2‑year uplift total: $1.10B – $1.50B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.75B – $1.00B 3‑year uplift total: $2.25B – $3.00B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.95B – $1.25B 2‑year uplift total: $1.90B – $2.50B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $1.20B – $1.60B 4‑year uplift total: $4.80B – $6.40B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $5.25B – $7.00B

  • Baseline: $4.80B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$10.05B – $11.80B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $10.05B – $13.40B

  • Baseline: $8.00B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$18.05B – $21.40B