GOOD GRIEF
Resilient communities: The case for early response capacity building following natural disasters
MacKillop Family Service Institute’s first discussion paper, Resilient communities: The case for early response capacity building following natural disasters, reviews the existing vulnerabilities of communities impacted by the 2019-2020 summer bushfires and considers the support these communities require to effectively recover and build resilience, recognising the loss, grief and trauma they have experienced has now been compounded by COVID-19.
The bushfires across New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria and southern Queensland were unprecedented. Several of the communities devastated by the fires had also previously been impacted by other recent natural disasters. And now COVID-19 is reshaping the world and directly impacting these same communities by hampering efforts of locals to rebuild their homes, businesses and lives.
The Stormbirds (natural disaster program) and Seasons for Growth evidence-based change and loss programs aim to build the professional capacity of education sector to improve outcomes for children, young people and families. Stormbirds allows children and young people to give voice to their experiences and celebrate how they have managed and how the community has come together in response to an event.
The discussion paper provides an overview of the impact of these events for some communities in NSW and Victoria, providing recommendations for support.
Stormbirds training is available in the following areas:
NSW Southcoast funded by nib foundation & Coordinare: 28th August
Victoria – Alpine area and Gippsland funded by UNICEF & Gippsland PHN: early September
SA – Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills funded by the St George Foundation
If your school is in these areas and you would like to participate in the training, please complete this link. Please also complete your details if you would like to discuss additional training in the Stormbirds program. Further Stormbirds information can be found on the Good Grief website.