AIDR knowledge and networks guide Minderoo Foundation’s Community-led Resilience project

A collaborative program aims to strengthen the capability of an ‘at risk’ community to respond to future shocks and stresses such as fire, floods and climate change.

AIDR and consultants EllisKent have partnered to deliver a program under Minderoo Foundation’s Resilient Communities mission that promotes community-led resilience to natural hazards.

The robust new approach will combine AIDR’s knowledge and educational resources with EllisKent’s six-step Future Communities model. Alongside these resources, a designated specialist will support one soon-to-be-determined community for 15 months to help facilitate a community-led resilience program that will equip them with knowledge and access to resources to better understand risk and plan for emergencies.

Through the Resilient Communities mission, Minderoo Foundation has set itself the goal to lift Australia’s 50 most vulnerable communities to be on par with Australia’s 50 most resilient communities by 2025 by helping communities to access the support and resources to mitigate their disaster risk and bounce back stronger.

Toby Kent of EllisKent Consulting said “there are tremendous strengths that exist within all communities. This approach is about giving people the space to recognise those strengths and equipping them to build local resilience by connecting them with knowledge and access to resources that might not normally be available.”

Find out more about the Community-led resilience program. The Resilient Communities mission is part of Minderoo Foundation’s broader Flood and Fire Resilience initiative.

Community-led resilience program key personnel

Brett Ellis has 30 years’ experience working in the emergency management sector supporting jurisdictions, organisations and communities in managing risk and building resilience. His career includes roles within Local Government, Emergency Management Victoria, Rural Ambulance Victoria, Life Saving Victoria, and a secondment to Resilient Melbourne to assist with the development of the Resilient Melbourne Strategy.

Toby Kent is a sustainability and resilience expert specialising in leading successful cross sector collaborations. As Melbourne’s Chief Resilience Officer, Toby worked across all of metropolitan Melbourne’s 32 councils, in partnership with State and other agencies and many community groups, to develop and deliver Australia’s first urban resilience strategy.

Dr Margaret Moreton of Leva Consulting works with communities across Australia, to support them identify, understand and strengthen their assets, to support community preparation for any hazard, and to strengthen community resilience and recovery from disasters and emergency events. Margaret also advises and works with all levels of government, and with NGOs, including philanthropic foundations. She advocates for the inherent resilience of communities and the importance of community agency and voice.