Communities coming together reaps rewards!
A community-wide collaboration to recover and thrive after natural disaster.
Community Participation - LP008-005
The issue
With the Glen Innes region experiencing an extended period of natural disasters including a continuing drought, bushfires of unprecedented intensity during the Black Summer period of 2019/2020, and then damaging floods in early 2021, the inherent resilience of this rural community was sorely tested.
Individuals and businesses were negatively impacted both financially and psychologically and GLENRAC aimed to make a positive difference by bringing together a diverse range of partner organisations to provide services, information, resources and donations.
The solution
In creating the Natural Disaster Response and Recovery Program: Supporting Our Community Glen Innes, GLENRAC encouraged community participation in a variety of training and learning activities.
The aim was to help community members to access assistance, reduce social isolation and re-establish existing or create new connections, which are fundamental to community cohesion.
Individuals were also able to drop into the GLENRAC foyer and access a range of donated goods.
New and existing partnerships with local community organisations, including RSPCA, CWA, Lions, Lioness and Rotary Clubs and local businesses and government agencies, provided a comprehensive platform for GLENRAC to engage with the wider community.
The impact
The program received an outstanding community response from contributing organisations and individuals, creating a legacy of partnerships across the whole community, that will continue to safeguard the resilience of the region into the future.
GLENRAC delivered more than 200 events, fielded 661 enquiries, secured more than $2.5 million in government rebates and disaster assistance for community members and was extremely honoured to be recognised with a number of local and state awards:
- Glen Innes Severn Council's 2021 Environmental Citizen of the Year was awarded to GLENRAC staff member Jennie Coldham
- GLENRAC's Christmas 'Smoko' event was also awarded GISC's 2021 Community Event of the Year
- Described as "quiet achievers with big impact", GLENRAC received a Highly Commended in the prestigious 2021 NSW Resilient Australia Awards / Get Ready NSW Community Awards - which recognises the grassroots' efforts of communities to work towards improving community resilience and disaster recovery outcomes for communities.
Key facts
- GLENRAC's Natural Disaster Response and Recovery Program: Supporting Our Community Glen Innes, delivered 200 events, fielded 661 enquiries and secured more than $2.5 million in government rebates and disaster assistance.
- The Program attracted two local government awards in the 2021 Environmental and Community Categories.
- A Highly Commended was received in the 2021 NSW Resilient Australia Awards/Get Ready NSW Community Awards.