As a Black Saturday survivor, I have learned that in times of disaster, the strength of our communities and connections is what carries us through. We’ve seen it in action – when fires, floods, and crises hit, it is often the people closest to us who step up. But what if we didn’t wait for disaster to build these connections? What if deep community, rooted in care and mutual support, was how we lived every day?

In October 2022, the Maribyrnong River in Melbourne’s west experienced a devastating flood, affecting over 500 properties and leaving a lasting impact on the community. Among those most affected were women and children from migrant and refugee backgrounds, whose unique challenges during disaster recovery are often underrepresented.

This past weekend, community leaders, activists, and everyday changemakers came together at the Friends of the Earth Climate Adaptation Fair in Footscray. The energy in the gathering space was inspiring — people driven by a shared purpose: finding ways to adapt to a changing climate while strengthening the social fabric that holds us together.

As the DisasterWISE Communities Network approaches a significant milestone, we find ourselves reflecting on the transformative journey that brought us here. DisasterWISE has evolved into a bold, community-led learning network that is growing a movement centred in connection, peer to peer learning and advocacy for change.

David Younger is a psychologist and disaster strategist with extensive experience supporting individuals, communities, and organizations through disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Drawing on his expertise in trauma, resilience and community dynamics, David provides practical strategies to help people navigate the psychological and emotional challenges of disasters.

At DisasterWISE, we are thrilled to announce our transition to Mighty Networks, a vibrant platform designed to better align with our overaching vision of enabling strong, just, and thriving communities. This change marks a significant step in strengthening our network and amplifying the voices of those shaping community-led disaster resilience.

In the town of Lismore, the recent NIDR Gathering became a powerful reminder of the strength that emerges when communities take charge of their own futures. Against the backdrop of cultural landscapes on Bundjalung Country, participants came together to share stories of resilience and hope.

DisasterWISE hosted Senator Sheldon – Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery –  to engage in a rich dialogue with people of lived and learned experience of community-led recovery in June.

In a special event, Strathewen and Anglesea Primary Schools had the privilege of engaging with Cindi Preller, who is the Director of the Pacific Tsunami Museum in Hilo, Hawaii. Cindi, who was in Melbourne as the keynote speaker at the Emergency Management Conference 2024, spent a morning with each of the school’s  students, to share information and learn about tsunamis.

This June, the DisasterWise community gathered for an insightful get-together featuring Josh Collings from Acres and Acres in Corryong. The theme of the event focused on a critical issue facing many communities after disaster: food security. With climate change increasing the frequency and intensity of disaster events, ensuring access to food in the aftermath has never been more important. Localised food networks offer food security for regions, along with opportunities for peer-to-peer learning, strengthening community fabric and building a more resilient futures.

In the wake of a disaster, communities often face immense challenges, from physical destruction to emotional trauma. However, people can connect, learn and support each other through these times, and the creative arts can be a powerful tool for healing and building resilience. In the April Get-Together, DisasterWISE members gathered to hear from Deb Borsos in British Columbia, to hear more about community recovery practice in Canada.

Last month, Sumarlinah and I had the opportunity of travelling to Mildura for the annual Changefest: Rivers of Change; People, Places and Possibilities. The DisasterWISE submission had been accepted and ‘smooshed’ together with other disaster-type submissions from The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI), Hands Up Mallee and Moreno Family Services. Together, we would host a yarning circle, sharing stories and insights from our lived and learned experiences of disaster events.

The Black Summer Fires created havoc in so many communities. Roads were blocked, power was out, telecommunications were down, not just for a few days but for weeks. The flow on effects of loss of power meant there was no refrigeration and no fresh food; petrol and diesel couldn’t be pumped assuming you could get to the petrol station so generators were good while supplies lasted, ATMs and Eftpos didn’t work without power or communications so you couldn’t buy the things you needed.

In the idyllic, coastal town of Eden, located halfway between Melbourne and Sydney, a remarkable initiative has been unfolding, led by two community-minded women, Jodie Stewart and Sharon Wellard. The Eden Disaster Preparedness Project, initiated in 2021 by the Eden Community Access Centre, aimed to bring the community together to co-design a disaster preparedness plan over a two-year period.

I’m Alan Jones, and I’ve been through a lifetime of challenges and adventures, primarily in emergency services. Born in 1947 in Sydney, I am a baby boomer and spent my early years exploring the bush and surfing the northern beaches. After meeting my wife Marj during a weekend ski trip to the snowfields of Kosciusko, we married in 1969 and now have four children spread all over Australia.

I grew up in Pakenham Upper, and my first taste of Disaster was the Ash Wednesday fires. Our property overlooked Upper Beaconsfield, and I remember Dad was out with the SES helping with the fires, and here I was, as a 14-year-old, on the roof with a fire hose.  The experience of the fires burning around our house was incredible, but what I remember more was how it impacted the lives of some of my classmates. Some from Upper Beaconsfield and Cockatoo lost their homes, and I remember it changed them. Being a teenager at the time, I didn’t understand why, but the impact this major disaster had on a community and individuals always stuck with me.

Hi, I’m Eddie, a long-time Port Douglas local. Port Douglas is just one town in the larger Douglas Shire Council, encompassing nearby towns such as Mossman, Wonga Beach, Daintree, and Cape Tribulation. Cyclone Jasper marks my first experience with a natural disaster and my first time deeply embedded in a local community during disaster recovery. Category 2 Cyclone Jaspar was one thing, but the unexpected torrential rain following a few days later shocked many of us long-term locals. It was something we had never witnessed before.

Experiencing extreme weather events and disasters such as bushfires and floods following drought is becoming more common in Australia (Seneviratne et al., 2021). For infants, children and families, many may show some signs of distress but most will recover with safety, care, and reassurance. However, it’s important to know when people, and in particular infants and children may need some extra support.

When floods hit, they leave more than just physical damage in their wake. For Rekindling the Spirit, an organisation deeply rooted in its community, the challenge was not just about rebuilding structures but also managing a sudden increase in demand for their services. 

I joined the Arthur’s Creek/Strathewen Emergency Scenario event in early November with my family. We had previously attended a briefing a few weeks prior, led by an independent facilitator, but co-created through a process with varying community members, emergency service agencies and the local council. At the briefing, we were advised that participants would receive a text message on the 15th of November with further directions.