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Maintaining and promoting dignity for Aboriginal communities in preparedness and recovery
Weather events highlight the disproportionate impact of disasters on Aboriginal communities and reinforce the urgent need for community led approaches to recovery. Two weather events in close succession throughout 2025 on the North Coast of NSW offered opportunity to engage with Aboriginal communities in different ways, responding to place-based priorities, designed with community. This presentation will showcase outcomes for different communities that demonstrates flexibility. These examples place dignity, cultural safety and Aboriginal leadership at the centre of disaster preparedness and recovery.
Throughout ARGN1198, Feb 2025, Aboriginal communities in the Northern Rivers (NR) were acutely aware of the need for coordinated community-centric planning to ensure Aboriginal services can meet community needs. A yarning circle was established with the Recovery Coordinator for Aboriginal services which evolved into a Community-led Resilience Forum (CRF). This forum invites place-based Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in NR to meet regularly, focussed on developing a preparedness strategy. During this presentation we will share our experience supporting Community to pursue their vision and provide an overview of the outcomes to date.
We will further share the development and implementation of the Aboriginal Focused Recovery Assistance Points (RAPs) established after the May 2025 floods on Mid-North Coast ARGN1212. By reducing formality, respecting community identified spaces, and embedding trauma-informed practice, Aboriginal RAPs have shown measurable success in increasing engagement and enabling culturally meaningful pathways to recovery. Drawing on case studies from Kempsey, Taree and Bowraville, the presentation brings to life a unique informed practice, Aboriginal RAPs have shown measurable success in increasing engagement and enabling culturally meaningful pathways to recovery.
By sharing practical lessons and opportunities, these examples provide a model for government and sector partners seeking to uphold dignity and foster equitable recovery for Aboriginal communities.
Throughout ARGN1198, Feb 2025, Aboriginal communities in the Northern Rivers (NR) were acutely aware of the need for coordinated community-centric planning to ensure Aboriginal services can meet community needs. A yarning circle was established with the Recovery Coordinator for Aboriginal services which evolved into a Community-led Resilience Forum (CRF). This forum invites place-based Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in NR to meet regularly, focussed on developing a preparedness strategy. During this presentation we will share our experience supporting Community to pursue their vision and provide an overview of the outcomes to date.
We will further share the development and implementation of the Aboriginal Focused Recovery Assistance Points (RAPs) established after the May 2025 floods on Mid-North Coast ARGN1212. By reducing formality, respecting community identified spaces, and embedding trauma-informed practice, Aboriginal RAPs have shown measurable success in increasing engagement and enabling culturally meaningful pathways to recovery. Drawing on case studies from Kempsey, Taree and Bowraville, the presentation brings to life a unique informed practice, Aboriginal RAPs have shown measurable success in increasing engagement and enabling culturally meaningful pathways to recovery.
By sharing practical lessons and opportunities, these examples provide a model for government and sector partners seeking to uphold dignity and foster equitable recovery for Aboriginal communities.
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