The international workshop titled “Communication During a Time of Crisis: Practical Approaches and Lessons Learned in the Pacific” was convened under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) from August 5 to 6, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. Marking the first-ever GCTF event hosted in Australia, the workshop was co-organized by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Australia (TECO), the U.S. Embassy in Australia, and the Griffith Asia Institute. This collaboration reflects the deepening commitment of partner countries to supporting resilience and cooperation across the Pacific region.
The event brought together 52 participants from 15 countries—Australia, Canada, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tonga, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vanuatu. Participants included government officials, scholars, media professionals, and civil society representatives who exchanged insights and best practices on effective crisis communication. Discussions centered on experiences during natural disasters and public health emergencies, contributing to efforts to bolster media resilience and cross-border collaboration throughout the region.
In his opening remarks, Representative Douglas Yu-Tien Hsu of TECO in Australia highlighted the vital role of transparent and timely communication during crises. He emphasized Taiwan’s whole-of-society approach to disaster and pandemic resilience, and reaffirmed Taiwan’s commitment to sharing its experience with regional partners in support of sustainable development, safety, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
Other keynote speakers included Professor Christopher Nedopil-Wang, Director of the Griffith Asia Institute, and Ms. Erika Olson, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Australia. Ms. Eve Chu, CEO of the Taiwan FactCheck Center, along with other international experts, also underscored the importance of fostering public trust through responsible, transparent, and data-driven communication.
Since its inception in 2015, the GCTF has served as a vital platform for Taiwan and its like-minded partners to promote practical cooperation across key areas such as public health, cybersecurity, women’s empowerment, and disaster preparedness. Australia has been a full partner of the GCTF since 2021. The successful convening of the Brisbane workshop reflects the ongoing efforts of Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen media resilience and societal readiness in the face of future crises.
