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🇦🇺 Australia /Disasters & Emergencies

Community disaster recovery groups undervalued, need more government support: report

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • A new report highlights that community disaster response organizations are undervalued and facing burnout.
  • These local groups fill critical gaps in disaster risk reduction efforts, often without adequate government support or recognition.
  • The research emphasizes the need for greater support for these organizations, especially given the increasing frequency and novelty of disasters due to climate change.

Community disaster response organizations are vital for building resilience but are undervalued and facing burnout, according to a new report. These local groups, including charities and community associations, often fill gaps in government disaster risk reduction efforts without sufficient support or recognition.

It leads to them rapidly being able to build trust and credibility more so than someone that's coming from outside.

— Willow ForsythWestern Sydney University researcher Willow Forsyth explains the advantage of local knowledge in disaster response.

Willow Forsyth from Western Sydney University stated that these organizations' local knowledge allows them to build trust and credibility rapidly, making them essential in disaster responses. However, she noted that their expertise is often not recognized by state agencies as much as it should be. The research, which surveyed groups across New South Wales, comes at a critical time as climate change increases the frequency and novelty of disasters.

At the moment the disaster risk is emerging faster and in more novel forms than we're managing to create growth in community resilience and preparedness.

— Willow ForsythWillow Forsyth discusses the timeliness of the research given the increasing disaster risks.

"At the moment the disaster risk is emerging faster and in more novel forms than we're managing to create growth in community resilience and preparedness," Forsyth said. Hawkesbury's Helping Hands (HHH), a charity that distributes 10 pallets of food relief weekly, has responded to drought, bushfires, and floods since late 2019. HHH CEO Linda Strickland mentioned that while her organization is recognized due to its established charity work and has received thanks from prime ministers, it has never received government funding for its operations.

All these community connections are done well before [the disasters].

— Linda StricklandLinda Strickland, CEO of Hawkesbury's Helping Hands, describes the long-standing community work that prepares groups for disasters.

Strickland stressed that smaller grassroots organizations, like the progress association in Eugowra, which managed a newsletter and rural transaction center, also need more recognition. "All these community connections are done well before [the disasters]," she said. "They're usually the first ones to respond." HHH also continues to assist in recovery long after disaster events, highlighting their role as both first and last responders.

They're usually the first ones to respond.

— Linda StricklandLinda Strickland highlights the immediate role of community organizations in disaster events.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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