SOUTH EAST NSW

Resilience Blueprint

Pillars

Summary

The people, communities and cultures of the South East are at the heart of why bolstering our existing levels of resilience is so important.

Theme 1: Health and wellbeing

Maintaining and enhancing physical and mental health and wellbeing are a cornerstone of the Resilience Blueprint. More than any other aspect, good health and wellbeing is the number one aspiration of communities across South East NSW.

There has been a lot to deal with. There is a journey to go, and that is okay.

Support to help individuals and communities to deal with extremes and stress requires a long-term and enduring approach, it is not just an issue in times of recovery. It must be a continuous focus, and resourced and funded appropriated. Our people are our greatest asset and they require investment.

Theme 2: Community-led preparedness

Communities are empowered and have agency in relation to those elements which are within their realm of control and influence. Some things we cannot control or influence, and some we can. Where we can, we act.

People and communities self-educate, and are provided with the information and intelligence to do so, to develop plans and inform decision making. This is done proactively, because waiting until an event is immanent is too late. This approach means that as a community, we are never complacent.

People and communities can learn and seek mentorship on First Nations’ traditional and modern practices and teachings on caring for Country

Theme 3: Cohesive communities

Social connections vastly increase our levels of resilience. This goes beyond our own participation as a citizen in our community, but is also about ensuring our communities are inclusive and diverse. It also includes having an awareness of the needs of those who may be more vulnerable, this may be due to illness, age or physical or social isolation.

This does not necessarily mean that we do things for others, but rather that we help them to realise their own abilities and realms of control and influence.

These characteristics and approaches strengthen our social fabric, and they are celebrated.

Experience and knowledge is shared for the benefit of the wide community, and across generations.

Growing resilience requires us all to stretch boundaries.

Experience and knowledge is shared for the benefit of the wide community, and across generations. Growing resilience requires us all to stretch boundaries.

I would feel better prepared if I were better linked to my neighbours, local response and recovery organisations through regular get-togethers and practical get ready sessions.” – Queanbeyan-Palerang resident

EXAMPLE APPROACHES FROM ACROSS THE REGION

‘Fire to Flourish’ is a five-year transdisciplinary program led by Monash University working at the intersection of disaster resilience and community development. Fire to Flourish aims to support communities to lead their own recovery, co-create foundations for long-term resilience and wellbeing, and disrupt cycles of entrenched disadvantage. By harnessing the power of local leadership and action, the program will trial and scale a new model of community-led resilience, amplified through partnerships with government, philanthropic, not-for-profit and private sector organisations.

‘Child friendly spaces’ set up by Save the Children in Wagga Wagga and Bega to provide children with a safe and inclusive place to play, laugh and socialise whilst parents could have some respite and deal with things like insurance, securing accommodation and seeking government services.

‘Currowan: A story of a fire and a community during Australia’s worst summer’ was written by Eurobodalla Shire resident and journalist, Bronwyn Adcock. A local’s account of the Black Summer bushfires and the Currowan fire from the perspective of what was experienced, seen, thought and felt.

The ‘Regenerate Eurobodalla’ program seeks to build community resilience through leadership, growing capabilities to operate in complexity and contribute to effective action in service of a shared purpose.

Wiradjuri culturally-inclusive curriculum at Tumut Pre-School through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy, employing Indigenous educators to building relationships and link with Elders and share knowledge.

The Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation is an Indigenous-led network and aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management. It provides Indigenous leadership, advocacy and action to protect, conserve and enhance cultural and natural values of people and Country through cultural fire and land management practices. It is an initiative for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to look after Country, share experiences and collectively explore ways to achieve their goals.

EXAMPLE APPROACHES FROM ACROSS THE REGION

‘Fire to Flourish’ is a five-year transdisciplinary program led by Monash University working at the intersection of disaster resilience and community development. Fire to Flourish aims to support communities to lead their own recovery, co-create foundations for long-term resilience and wellbeing, and disrupt cycles of entrenched disadvantage. By harnessing the power of local leadership and action, the program will trial and scale a new model of community-led resilience, amplified through partnerships with government, philanthropic, not-for-profit and private sector organisations.

‘Child friendly spaces’ set up by Save the Children in Wagga Wagga and Bega to provide children with a safe and inclusive place to play, laugh and socialise whilst parents could have some respite and deal with things like insurance, securing accommodation and seeking government services.

‘Currowan: A story of a fire and a community during Australia’s worst summer’ was written by Eurobodalla Shire resident and journalist, Bronwyn Adcock. A local’s account of the Black Summer bushfires and the Currowan fire from the perspective of what was experienced, seen, thought and felt.

The ‘Regenerate Eurobodalla’ program seeks to build community resilience through leadership, growing capabilities to operate in complexity and contribute to effective action in service of a shared purpose.

Wiradjuri culturally-inclusive curriculum at Tumut Pre-School through the Australian Government’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy, employing Indigenous educators to building relationships and link with Elders and share knowledge.

The Firesticks Alliance Indigenous Corporation is an Indigenous-led network and aims to re-invigorate the use of cultural burning by facilitating cultural learning pathways to fire and land management. It provides Indigenous leadership, advocacy and action to protect, conserve and enhance cultural and natural values of people and Country through cultural fire and land management practices. It is an initiative for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to look after Country, share experiences and collectively explore ways to achieve their goals.

Tools for Support

For people and communities:

• Council website emergency management pages and social media
• NSW Fires Near Me (also available as an app)
• NSW RFS plan and prepare tools
• NSW SES emergency kit information
• NSW SES Your Risk suburb look-up
• Preparing for emergencies provided by the Australian Red Cross
• Natural Hazards Research Australia’s ‘Care4Guide’ resources for young volunteer positive
mental health and wellbeing

For governments and service organisations:

• Australian Red Cross ‘Understanding Preparedness and Recovery’ report
• Handbooks for small and large recovery organisations prepared by the University of Canberra
• ‘Strengthening disaster preparedness in human service organisations’ project report prepared
by Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga
• ‘Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness’ (P-CEP) for disability inclusive disaster risk reduction
prepared by the University of Sydney
• Natural Hazards Research Australia’s diversity and inclusion framework:
– ‘Learning as We Go: Developing effective inclusive management’
– ‘Building inclusive partnerships with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities’
• University of Canberra regional wellbeing survey reports
• The Economic Cost of the Social Impact of Natural Disasters prepared by the Australian Business
Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities
• Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) Handbook Collection:
– Community engagement for disaster resilience
– Community recovery
– Disaster resilience education for young peop

Health and wellbeing

SYSTEM PRIORITIES

We are open about mental health

We facilitate access and foster a culture of mental health awareness and support

STRATEGIES

People and communities 

• Fostering behaviours that support people to reach out for support 

Service agencies and organisations:

• Awareness of mental health referral and options for help are clear and shared

• Psychological first aid training to support those who support others

• Training of staff and volunteers on how to support people experiencing trauma

Government:

• Psychological first aid training to support those who support others

• De-brief to discuss and share experiences at different intervals throughout the resilience and recovery cycle

• Training of first responders, staff and elected officials on how to support people experiencing trauma

 

INDICATOR METRICS

• Regional wellbeing survey community wellbeing indices

• Access to health services

• Number of training modules delivered

• Drug and alcohol abuse data

• Domestic violence data

• Suicide and suicide prevention data

• Number of physical health programs delivered

NOTE: mental health referrals is not an effective indicator as referrals should be expected to increase because of supportive intervention.

Resilience Resource Directory

Resilience is big space. Here is our directory with links to a number of local, state, federal, and international organisations and resources to help assist you on your journey to building resilience.

Explore

Acknowledgement of Country

We stand on Country that always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we show our respect for Elders past and present. We are committed to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work.

Resources

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