It’s a subculture that in the past would’ve elicited images of tin stocked bunkers, emergency gear, and conspiracy theories about a great ‘cleansing’. However since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, prepping has become more mainstream – with self sustaining practices like food-baring seasonal gardening, foraging and emergency preparedness taking centre stage.

Global instability and the unchecked growth of AI are some of the key catalysts to people taking on prepping practices, but the main driver was the pandemic and chaos of empty supermarket shelves and disrupted global supply chains.

In Australia the rise in catastrophic weather events (fires, flooding etc) have prompted many communities to think deeper about their preparedness for disaster. Despite this growing awareness, we are still largely unprepared according to a report released as part of Australian Red Cross’ annual EmergencyRedi week (15-21 September 2025), which raises national awareness about the importance of preparedness.

According to the report, 90% of Australians have been affected by an emergency or disaster in their lifetime, only one in three (35%) were prepared. The primary reasons for lack of preparation were cited as “it won’t happen to me” (22%), and “it’s not on my radar” (20%).

We’ve come across the same explanations when working with government agencies like the SES on community preparedness for storms, flooding and fire.

After aggregating a number of surveys, True Prepper estimate that there are currently 23.4 million preppers in the US, approximately 9.1% of the US adult population.

While numbers aren’t available for Australia, anecdotal evidence reveals a rise here too. Speaking to The Guardian, camping store owners Sam and Candice Johnson revealed that requests for more serious survival gear is on the rise.

“When we started … [prepping] was a really underground, quiet kind of thing. But that’s increased 10-fold, twentyfold, thirtyfold.”

Bradley Garrett, is a geographer who has researched preppers around the world, compiling his findings in a book titled Bunker.

He states that the main difference between Australian preppers and American ones, is that we still have faith that the government will step in to help at some stage.

“My experience talking to preppers in Australia is they’re much more concerned with practical prepping, as we call it – prepping for a wildfire or a blackout for three days or a week, or the taps turning off, or whatever. It seems to me like there is an expectation that help is going to arrive at some point … whereas with American preppers, they’re much more concerned that help is not going to arrive and you’re on your own. And that’s certainly become exacerbated under the second Trump administration.”

Beyond stereotypes, preppers offer something that is of great value: a philosophy of readiness that applies to everyday life just as much as it does to rare disasters. In an increasingly unpredictable world—where storms, economic swings, supply-chain issues, or digital outages can disrupt the norm—preppers model a mindset worth paying attention to.

Here are some things we can all learn from preppers:

Preparedness reduces panic

Preppers plan ahead. They create backup systems for food, water, energy, communication, and essential supplies. This doesn’t stem from fear; it’s a strategy to reduce fear. By preparing in calm moments, they avoid panic in stressful ones.

The lesson is simple: A little preparation today makes tomorrow feel more secure.

Self-Reliance builds confidence

Preppers cultivate practical skills—gardening, first aid, basic repair, cooking from scratch, navigation, communication, and more. These skills aren’t just for crisis scenarios. They strengthen self-reliance and confidence.

In a world where convenience often replaces capability, preppers remind us that: Skills are better than objects, and knowledge can’t be taken away.

Resourcefulness is a superpower

Many preppers excel at using what they already have. They repurpose containers, repair tools, reuse materials, and avoid waste long before sustainability became a popular concept.

Their approach teaches an important principle: Preparedness isn’t about buying more—it’s about making smarter use of what you already own.

Community matters more than stockpiles

Contrary to the lone-wolf prepper stereotype, many preppers emphasise community: trusted networks, shared skills, local relationships, and mutual assistance.

The truth is timeless: In any emergency—large or small—people do better together than alone.

Thinking ahead is a life skill

Preppers tend to ask: “What if?” But they don’t stop there—they follow up with: “And what would I do?”

This habit of scenario planning is a life skill relevant to careers, finances, health, and relationships. It encourages proactive thinking rather than reactive scrambling.

We are not advocating for you to build an underground bunker or start hoarding supplies ala the first few weeks of the pandemic – but taking on the core lessons of self-reliance, readiness, resourcefulness, and community from preppers is something that we can all benefit from.

In a world that rewards short-term convenience, preppers encourage long-term thinking. And in an era of constant, turbulent change, their way of thinking prepares us for whatever future is to come.