Growing the seeds: recovery, strength and capability in Gippsland communities

This publication explores how the communities in East Gippsland and Wellington Shires, Australia experienced their strength and capabilities following a bushfire event that burned for 106 days before being contained, followed by a global pandemic that led to a statewide lockdown. The intersection of these two events is unprecedented and there were not the arrangements in place to effectively manage an occurrence of this nature. Recovery from disasters, where adapting to a new state is part of the process, is best approached by building on a community’s strongest attributes and capabilities. This project has engaged with people who live in and who work with those communities to explore what those strengths and capabilities are. It also examines the influences and implications of the changing risk landscape and economic context surrounding communities in relation to these capabilities.

This research revealed community capability as a resource available for disaster recovery that has a substantial untapped potential. Understanding which capabilities are in place, and how they can be harnessed to enhance current and future recovery, needs to be a priority for strategic management of disaster risk. As a starting point for recovery, community strength and capability can help provide a constructive focus for dialogue between communities, emergency services and government, as it is mutually beneficial for everyone. But more importantly, it offers an opportunity for the community to lead through practical pathways that support recovery and build resilience through their strengths.