Get Ready Dungog Shire is a space to share information, resources and tips that can help you, your family and community build resilience so that we can all be prepared not scared. Nearly 2 years after the severe weather event Dungog experienced in April 2015 and with the emotional, physical and financial wounds slowly healing are you ready if disaster strikes again? We know we should, we hear it a
ll the time but what prevents us from actually taking those steps to ensure our safety. How can we make our community disaster resilient and what does that really mean? Research from Victoria after the 2009 bushfires states that “a disaster resilient community is recognised as one where people work together with local leaders using their knowledge and resources to prepare for and deal with disasters”. By utilising personal and community strengths and existing networks we can make our community more connected, less isolated and stronger. Get Ready Dungog is an exciting new project rolling out of the Community Centre this year that aims to connect our community and strengthen our capacity to assist ourselves and our most vulnerable community members. Our objectives over the next 12 months are:
• To create a strong network of local Dungog community organisations, groups and emergency services that can work together to prepare for and act effectively during disasters using an all-hazards approach.
• To facilitate communication, cooperation and sharing of resources, training and expertise between groups, organisations and services
• To build on what was learned in 2015 to enhance and improve Dungog community member’s resilience and preparedness for future disasters.
• To create a robust model and templates that other communities can use to develop their own local Community-led Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Strategies, and to make this available to the Gillieston Heights community (with the direct support of DSCC) as a pilot to verify transferability.
