OzGREEN’S Resilient Communities Volunteer Facilitators are ready to commence training and locations have been selected for the 2022 roll out of the program.

During February facilitators will be mentored through the program readying them to deliver to their groups from March.

The Resilient Communities groups will run monthly from March – October 2022 in North Coffs, Orara Valley, Boambee, Bowraville, Macksville, Scotts Head, Stuarts Point, Kempsey and Willawarrin.

“The workshops will provide an opportunity for our local residents to come together to look at the challenges we face, share concerns, discuss local challenges and take action against climate change,” Kathleen Hannah, OzGREEN Program Manager, told News Of The Area.

OzGREEN’s unique program is based on 30 years experience and fosters the transition from feelings of sadness, helplessness and overwhelm into purposeful action.

“Together the groups will create a vision for the future they are striving for and innovative action plans to bring their vision to fruition.”

Participants in the program discuss local issues and strive to develop change locally.

“Previously the results have ranged from personal changes to home and lifestyle such as installing grey water systems, water tanks, insulation and veggie gardens to community projects such as garden tours, establishing local communications networks, installing neighbourhood food stalls and running free resilience building workshops for the community,” said Kathleen.

The nature of the Resilient Communities process, with participants designing the actions they need to take, makes the program relevant to everyone, no matter how far along they are on the journey to resilience.

The timeframe for action is also not limited to the eight-month program.

The resilience action plans help guide the ongoing journey to being prepared for disasters.

“An important outcome of Resilient Communities is that individuals and communities become informed, innovative and involved, with their own prioritised action plans to guide their onward journey,” said Sue Lennox, OzGREEN Co-founder.

Kicking off in March, each month there will be a different focus topic – Fire, Water, Food, Energy, Economy and Health – from a global perspective online, and from a local perspective within these communities, led by local leaders.

The Resilient Communities program is free for participants and is a Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund project through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements as well as the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal and the Yulgilbar Foundation.

Community members are encouraged to register, visit https://www.ozgreen.org/rc.

 

By Andrea FERRARI