The DisasterWISE team was on country last week, visiting Gumbaynggirr country to meet with four Fire to Flourish community teams. We are grateful to the communities of Eurobodalla, East Gippsland, Tenterfield and Clarence Valley for sitting and working with us, listening to our presentation, sharing their ideas and giving us insight into the work happening within their regions.

Kate, Steve and Sabrina shared their stories in a yarning circle and presented what the community-led learning network could offer communities Australia-wide and even global, either preparing or recovering from disaster. The network centralises story and focuses on our guiding stars of connect, learn and create change in everything we do within the online network.

Deep conversations and brainstorms around systems change and resilience capabilities were balanced with medicinal bush walks, a pottery lesson, an incredible healing and self-care session and a tour of the beautiful Clarence Valley region, right on time for the Jaracanda festival in Grafton.

Seeing the region challenged by fires everywhere, with many more burning all over NSW, was a very real reminder for all of us that another difficult season has already arrived. We saw firsthand what this means for the people on the land. We heard the compassion in people’s voices and the anxiety around what is yet to come, only a few years after their last disaster.

Everyone’s vulnerability and openness created a special bond during the week and allowed us to see the positive effects already happening due to the incredible community work on the ground.

Change is happening now by communities connecting and learning from one another. Join us and be active on the network: listen to others and share your stories, ask questions and source information. An informed community is a better prepared community, a connected community is a more resilient and thriving community.