Future Drought Fund Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought - Community Impact Program
2023 - 2025
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With funding provided by Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal as part of the Future Drought Funds in collaboration with Australian Rural Leadership Foundation, Gascoyne Catchments Group, as the lead organisation for our region will work with people across the region to build social connection of land managers across the Gascoyne through understanding of drought challenges and resilience building goals.
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The projects will delivery presentations and workshops focused on Building social connection of land managers across the Gascoyne through understanding of drought challenges and resilience building goals.
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Through this project GCG will work closely with RNRM to will mobilise key presenters, facilitators, and trainers to the region. Given the large geographical span of the Gascoyne bringing people together takes a large commitment both in time and travel By engaging with professionals to deliver relevant information to aid the community in preparing for drought, both mentally and physically we will create social connection and strengthen relationships across the region.
The aim is to further strengthen connections both of business owners, local shires and key stakeholders to build a resilient community.
Topics to cover/include:
- Mental Health professionals to aid in understanding not only personal triggers but also those of young staff in the area
- Personal Resilience presenters
- Sharing local knowledge, personal understandings of the regions drought history
- Landscape Management Trainers/Presenters to increase knowledge and understanding,
generating discussions between the community and encouraging long term connections
- Plant species specialist to provide targeted understanding of the Gascoyne for the community,
and its key stakeholder as to better personally understand the impacts drought have on the
species
- Grazing for Profit trainers to assist the community in building drought resilient businesses,
therefore decreasing personal stress during dry times
- Technology/Tool presenters to provide an understanding of what is available to assist people
not only during drought but to better prepare before things become stressful
- Provide materials relevant to aid in during times of high stress, help people understand how to
use them and where to go for help.
The project will provide the participants with the tools required to allow access to key information during the high stress times of drought and personal stresses, for whatever reason they occur. Better connecting and preparing our community for drought and all of the stresses that are part of those hard times will assist in building not only their personal resilience but that of their business, whilst better connecting them with the broader region.
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GCG has found that bringing people together in various physical locations across the region enhances shared learning and adoption of topics presented. We have found that group settings generate natural conversations and strengthen connections, through shared understandings. Shared learnings and resources build the regions confidents to reach out to their neighbours and other regional stakeholders and professionals during times of high stress.
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Alongside GCG core programs we will work with Australian Rural Leadership Foundation to deliver 3 session's for their Changemaker Workshop. This Changemaker Workshop empowers individuals who wish to make a real difference in their communities by providing them with skills in assessing their region’s readiness for change, positive change agency, purposeful engagement and storytelling to shape communities. We believe that through collaboration and purposeful engagement, positive change is not only possible but also achievable.
