East Gippsland Fire to Flourish

17/12/2025

It’s time for us to say goodbye from Fire to Flourish East Gippsland!

Fire to Flourish was designed as a five-year pilot program in response to the 2019/20 bushfires, to demonstrate that community leadership and grassroots action can meaningfully strengthen local resilience. The end of 2025 marks the end of this pilot.

Since those fires, Fire to Flourish East Gippsland has supported local leadership, strengthened community resilience and helped bring your incredible community-led ideas to life. As the program reaches its planned conclusion at the end of this year, we pause to celebrate everything we have achieved together.

Alongside our communities, we delivered 33 projects totalling $1.8million, each shaped by the people who call East Gippsland home. From strengthening cultural knowledge and environmental stewardship, to building practical skills, infrastructure projects and uplifting community connection, these projects reflect the creativity, determination and care of our local communities. To every community member, partner and organisation who walked alongside us, thank you.

Fire to Flourish brought with it new ways of working, grounded in co-design, reflection and shared decision-making. We recognise the trust, courage and open-mindedness it took to engage with an approach that was sometimes unfamiliar. Your willingness to sit at the table, share your insights, and co-create solutions made this program what it is. We are deeply grateful for the generosity and leadership shown across the region.

Thank you and goodbye!

03/12/2025

THIS SUNDAY! 7th December. Come and celebrate 5 years of the Fire to Flourish program in the Cann Valley region.

11.30am-2.30pm

You will be treated to local live music by bands from Orbost to Mallacoota and drumming circles.
There will be entertainment for the kids - face painting, temporary tatts, Wacky Wombat, basket weaving, tie-dye tee shirt making and more!
Seated massages...yes please
Gelati!
Bemm River Men's shed venison sausage sizzle!
Snaffle's cafe salads and coffees!
Cann River Community Centre treats and goodies!
A Spud Van!
So much goodness from our region, right here, on our doorstep.

Bring a picnic rug, the whole family and come and enjoy a day in the park with us. We look forward to seeing you there!

*In case of a rainy day, all festivities will be held at Cann River Community Hall

20/11/2025

Fire to Flourish in East Gippsland is closing its doors at the end of this year - and we would like to invite you all to our BIG end of year celebration in Cann River! This is a FREE family event at Mick Baum Park, Sunday 7th December from 11.30-2.30pm.
There will be live music from local artists, kids activities, face painting and free food.
Let's celebrate the amazing opportunities we have had in our region over the last 5 years.
Come one, Come all!

17/11/2025

Final call! The Fire to Flourish Impact Survey closes this week.

We’re wrapping up five years of community-led work across Australia and want to hear from you.

Your feedback will help us understand the full impact of Fire to Flourish from 2021 to 2025 and guide how future programs support communities to prepare for and recover from disasters.

💬 Takes less than 10 minutes
🎁 Go in the draw to win one of four $150 vouchers
📅 Closes midnight Friday 21 November

Take the survey: https://form.typeform.com/to/k2xEKQSl

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12/11/2025

We’re halfway through the final Fire to Flourish Impact Survey and want to thank everyone who has already shared their voice.

If you haven’t yet had your say, there’s still time. Your feedback will help us understand the impact of Fire to Flourish over the past five years and guide future programs that support communities to prepare for and recover from disasters.

🕓 It takes less than 10 minutes
🎁 Go in the draw to win one of four $150 vouchers
🔗 Take the survey: https://form.typeform.com/to/k2xEKQSl

04/11/2025

Help shape the future of community resilience

After five years of working alongside communities across Australia, Fire to Flourish is completing its final Impact Survey.

Your feedback will help us understand the difference the program has made from 2021 to 2025 and guide the design of future initiatives that better support communities to prepare for and recover from disasters.

The survey is anonymous and takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Everyone who participates can enter the draw to win one of four $150 vouchers.

👉 Take the survey here: https://form.typeform.com/to/k2xEKQSl

21/09/2025

Thank you, Gippsland Community Foundation for this awesome write up about our Showcase we held last week. What a day talking all things community-led recovery, rich conversations with a room full of amazing people.

19/09/2025

Introducing Shalini S. Matharage, a PHD student from Sri Lanka and a student of Daniel Aldrich.
Shalini's research focuses on the experiences of people displaced by climate - related disasters and is coming to East Gippsland late early October. Shalini is interested in community members who would like to share their personal stories.
Please see the flyer for information on how to contact Shalini if this is something that you would like to be a part of, or you can email us at [email protected] and we can organise a meeting with Shalini for you.

26/08/2025

Introducing Shalini S. Matharage, a PHD student from Sri Lanka and a student of Daniel Aldrich.
Shalini's research focuses on the experiences of people displaced by climate - related disasters and is coming to East Gippsland late September/early October. Shalini is interested in community members who would like to share their personal stories.
Please see the flyer for information on how to contact Shalini if this is something that you would like to be a part of.

05/08/2025

🌿 Wilderness Coast Kelp Farm Scoping Study 🌿

We’re exploring the potential for a community-owned kelp farming initiative along the Wilderness Coast - one that creates local jobs, supports the environment, and strengthens our coastal communities.

Our work builds on two key documents:
💚 The Australian Seaweed Industry Blueprint (Kelly, 2020) – outlining the opportunities and challenges in seaweed aquaculture for regional Australian Seaweed Industry https://www.australianseaweedinstitute.com.au/
💚 Assessing the Potential for Seaweed Aquaculture in Gippsland (Bursic et al., 2022) - highlighting Gippsland’s unique potential Gippsland Seaweed Aquaculture Study https://www.bluecarbonlab.org/

We’re taking it a step further by focusing on a community ownership/social enterprise model that returns real benefits to locals. We want your input!

Take our short community survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Y7XFHZD

Let’s grow something great together! 🌊

Take this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

26/07/2025

Susie will be delivering Su***de Prevention Training at the Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre on August 14.
This important session is open to everyone. Let’s work together to support mental health in our community.
🗓️ Date: August 14
📍 Location: Cann Valley Bush Nursing Centre
🔗 Register here: https://SafeCann.eventbrite.com.au

Please share and help spread the word. Every conversation counts. 💛