the budget for the
Bushfire Community
Development Program

spent at the end of the
2021/22 financial year

the program extended
into June next year

What is Community Development?

Community development is a process where community members are supported by agencies to identify and take collective action on issues which are important to them. Community development empowers community members and creates stronger and more connected communities.

Community development is a holistic approach grounded in principles of empowerment, human rights, inclusion, social justice, self-determination and collective action (Kenny, 2007). Community development considers community members to be experts in their lives and communities, and values community knowledge and wisdom. Community development programs are led by community members at every stage – from deciding on issues to selecting and implementing actions, and evaluation. Community development has an explicit focus on the redistribution of power to address the causes of inequality and disadvantage

The Vinnies Bushfire Recovery and Community Development (BRCD) program has employed the model described above and is rolling out a set of activities, across six impacted local government areas (LGA), which are designed to logically work together in order to improve the wellbeing and prosperity of communities and individuals. Each village and community is different and the activities will look different from one place to the next. However, what is consistent is that the activities are based on:

• research and evidence;
• consultations with and inputs from the community and local authorities,
• successful practices and technical expertise;
• and, ultimately, community’s knowledge, participation and ownership to make it successful.

The Society is implementing the BRCD Program in several locations identified to be most affected by the bushfires and vulnerable to ongoing disadvantage. A community development model was piloted in July 2020 in Kempsey LGA, and this has been scaled up throughout 2021 and is now operating in 6 LGAs.

The Society built upon the work done in Kempsey and developed a larger framework for community development to be rolled out in multiple LGAs. This framework used research and data from our Kempsey Pilot, but also Resilience NSW and the National Bushfire Recovery Agency, as well other government agencies and service providers.

The BRCD Program has three main objectives:

1. To improve community and individual resilience and disaster preparedness capacity
2. To strengthen community cohesion and increase individual sense of wellbeing and positive outlook.
3. To support local environment rehabilitation, regeneration, and productivity.

These three objectives apply across all LGAs we work in and are converted into local workplans that reflect the local context, and aspirations and issues in each community. These workplans are developed in consultation with local councils, community groups and community members.

• 7000+ people involved in BRCD activities
• 29 villages involved in BRCD activities
• 20 community-based partner organisations
• 650 + vulnerable / impacted households are more informed and prepared for future disasters
• 220+ community leaders’ skills built in different areas of hazard reduction and disaster management such as first aid, chainsaw operation, and basic counselling
• Nine communities have received support to build their local preparedness including defibrillators, first aid kits, satellite internet, and ember-proofing a local hall
• 84 community activities implemented aiming to revitalise community connections
• 220 community members have gained skills and confidence in trauma management / mental health or have been referred onto appropriate services
• 10 community not-for-profits organisations are receiving training and support to strengthen various capacities (for example, grant writing and governance)
• Over 2000 individuals have received informal case management support from Vinnies / third party staff
• 26 households have been supported with shelter / infrastructure needs
• Six land regeneration activities have occurred resulting in over 400 native trees being distributed for community / household planting
• St Vincent de Paul Society conference members are involved in 14% of all BRCD activities

And there is a lot more to come throughout the remainder of the program.

One of the early partnerships Vinnies established was with the Thunggutti Land Council in Kempsey.

Vinnies supported the Land Council, which was directly impacted by the 2019 fires, with a grant to train young men from the community in both traditional and modern land management practices, the first of its kind in this area.

The training focused on traditional cultural or cool burning, and modern weed management using artificial and organic pesticides.

The group of 10 young men have continued to be supported with additional training and equipment and have now established themselves as a commercial land care / management service called “Ngurra Mungan” (Old Camp) that is already getting work from local community and government alike.

The project has had a significant positive impact on the Thunggutti community, empowering members, creating pride in their skills, and also strengthening relationships with other parts of the community.

Thunggutti Land Council CEO Arthur Bain said” The Vinnies grant and ongoing support provided the seed funding for an ever-expanding opportunity to improve the physical, mental, social, and cultural health of the community.

From the initial cultural burn at Mungay Creek, a relationship of mutual respect has been built between the Thunggutti mob and non-Indigenous neighbours.”

The Landcare team practised their skills on a portion of land generally referred to by Thunggutti as “The old Mish”. They were able to clear the area of invasive weeds and establish a cultural walk trail, which opens up further opportunities for cultural tourism and traditional storytelling.

The BRCD program continues to work with the Land Council and Landcare team and, in the near-term, will be supporting them put on a schedule of demonstration cultural burns in the Kempsey region.