Draft Community Recovery Plan – Chapter Six Summary
This week, draft Recovery Plan Chapter Six – People and Wellbeing – will be available for your thoughts and comments. This chapter will be disseminated by email link to our website (madrecovery.com) and hard copies will be available at the Recovery Hub and the Genoa Pub for those not connected to the internet.
At its very heart, recovery is about people. A priority is ensuring those who lost their homes or suffered other significant stress – such as post-traumatic stress disorder, property damage and loss of income – have the supports they need to get back on their feet. This means looking out for those who may be ‘slipping between the cracks’ and advocating for community members whose cases may not fit neatly within assistance guidelines.
The beauty is we do look out for our own. Isolation means we are a DIY community with over fifty clubs, interest groups and volunteer organisations which places us well for recovery. Continuing to foster healthy networks and social connections is key to building resilience and entrenches our sense of belonging and optimism for the future.
Importantly, we need to capture the lessons learned during and after the bushfires/COVID-19 and build on these. We need to feel assured that in the event of another disaster we are prepared.
What’s in Chapter Six?
Chapter Six contains the suggestions put forward by you about what is important for individual and community wellbeing in the recovery context.
Support and Advice
MADRA Community Wellbeing Working Group
Recovery Management Team
The Child and Youth Recovery Working Group
Identified needs:
Full time youth/social worker for Mallacoota and Cann Valley districts
Ongoing funding for school social worker
Drug and Alcohol counsellor
Vocational/TAFE outreach worker
Child and youth psychologist
Cultural support for Aboriginal communities for Mallacoota and Cann Valley districts
Communications support officer
Family violence support person
Ongoing case management past contract expiration date for those that need
Ongoing business and economic support and advice
Housing
Shortfalls
Emergency and transitional housing
Rebuilding
Emergency Health Beds
Respite and emergency beds
Community Connections
Social opportunities
Pop-up drive-in cinema
Off lead dog beach
Kinder kids sunflower trail
Dances
Recreational opportunities on our fire trails
Sports and social clubs
More concerts, festivals and events, such as a busking showcase.
Reclink
Volunteering and mentoring opportunities
Community gymnasium
Youth
A Sanctuary Youth forum
Pathways to employment
Apprenticeships
Training
Digital economy
Skill sets through volunteering, i.e. Green Army Corps, emergency services
VET/TAFE/Jobs and Skills Network
Family Fun Day
Emergency Management
Debriefing and lessons learned
Information and protocols
Educating emergency response crews re local features
Develop a local emergency handbook
Develop a formal evacuation plan
Infrastructure (see also Chapter Seven – Buildings and Infrastructure)
Commemorating the Bushfires
Media interest
ADF memorial story boards
Reflections Park
The Arts, Music and Creative Activities
Film festival featuring local productions
Writing workshops and story telling
Café Culture and theatrical productions
Multimedia projects and skills
Dance workshops
Local sculpture exhibition
Photography lessons, tours and exhibitions
Our History
An audit of cultural and history icons to ensure these are preserved and protected.
Contributing to the Bunker museum bushfire collection
Re-establishing the Bunker museum bush tucker walk
Re-establishing the old Genoa School museum site
Capturing our stories on film and in writing and songs
We also take stock of what has been achieved over the last year. It’s important to acknowledge how far we have already regrouped through the efforts of many dedicated community members. A strong base has been built for future recovery endeavours
Is it too late to send in our ideas?
Perhaps the summary above sparked other ideas for individual and community wellbeing?
Any suggestions can be submitted via the MADRA suggestion boxes outside the Post Office and Genoa Pub, by email to mallacoota.district.assoc.2020@gmail.com or by letter to Locked Bag 1005, Mallacoota, VIC 3892.
Comments on Chapter Six can also be sent via these avenues.
Thanks,
MADRA