Building Community-Capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-Recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Tracks
Kuranda and Virtual via OnAIR
| Friday, November 8, 2024 |
| 9:45 AM - 10:05 AM |
| Kuranda Ballroom |
Overview
Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl, Mackillop Seasons and Dr Meaghan Vosz, Southern Cross University
Presenter
Dr Meaghan Vosz
Research Fellow at the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University
Southern Cross University
Building Community-capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Abstract
Natural disasters disrupt the lives of children and young people, along with the broader community, leaving in their wake trauma and uncertainty. Beyond emergency responses, building community capacity to support children and young people’s disaster recovery is critical for their wellbeing, resilience and the sustainability of rural communities. From 2019-2024 we worked in East Gippsland and NSW communities where children and young people experienced multiple bushfire seasons, ongoing floods and storm events, drought, and COVID-19 in their critical transition years. Our work involved:
• raising awareness about children and young people’s experiences of disaster, loss, and grief
• providing evidence-based training with adults in children and young people’s lives to support children and young people to navigate the loss, change and grief associated with disaster
• building the capacity of community networks, leaders and stakeholders to support children and young people’s participation in recovery and future disaster preparedness, and
• directly supporting children and young people with evidence-based wellbeing programs.
We used developmental evaluation to explore the practices associated with CCB-DR - Community Capacity Building for children and young people’s Disaster Recovery - and the socio-ecological conditions that enabled and constrained practices.
In this session we share our work in East Gippsland rural communities, and recommendations for enhancing rural community capacity to support children and young people’s recovery and wellbeing in the wake of ongoing disasters and involve them in climate adaptation. We explore how we built on established relationships, explored need in each community, and collaborated with local schools, recovery and disaster mental health services to tailor activities that built capacity to provide evidence-based wellbeing supports in each community. Our session will include links to short video feedback from East Gippsland community members in 2023-4 and young people in southern NSW during a unique ecological grief workshop.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Adults, services and schools in children and young people’s lives don’t always considering their experiences, capabilities as distinct from the families and systems they are part of, and the importance of listening to their unique perspectives and contributions.
2. Building capacity, knowledge and awareness of adults in children and young people’s lives can make a big difference in children’s wellbeing.
3. Children and young people experience ecological grief, loss and change following disaster and we need to address this when we work in the space of recovery and resilience.
• raising awareness about children and young people’s experiences of disaster, loss, and grief
• providing evidence-based training with adults in children and young people’s lives to support children and young people to navigate the loss, change and grief associated with disaster
• building the capacity of community networks, leaders and stakeholders to support children and young people’s participation in recovery and future disaster preparedness, and
• directly supporting children and young people with evidence-based wellbeing programs.
We used developmental evaluation to explore the practices associated with CCB-DR - Community Capacity Building for children and young people’s Disaster Recovery - and the socio-ecological conditions that enabled and constrained practices.
In this session we share our work in East Gippsland rural communities, and recommendations for enhancing rural community capacity to support children and young people’s recovery and wellbeing in the wake of ongoing disasters and involve them in climate adaptation. We explore how we built on established relationships, explored need in each community, and collaborated with local schools, recovery and disaster mental health services to tailor activities that built capacity to provide evidence-based wellbeing supports in each community. Our session will include links to short video feedback from East Gippsland community members in 2023-4 and young people in southern NSW during a unique ecological grief workshop.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Adults, services and schools in children and young people’s lives don’t always considering their experiences, capabilities as distinct from the families and systems they are part of, and the importance of listening to their unique perspectives and contributions.
2. Building capacity, knowledge and awareness of adults in children and young people’s lives can make a big difference in children’s wellbeing.
3. Children and young people experience ecological grief, loss and change following disaster and we need to address this when we work in the space of recovery and resilience.
Biography
Meaghan conducts participatory research with children and young people experiencing multiple intersecting forms of disadvantage, marginalisation and exclusion to promote their rights and agency. She also collaborates with not-for-profit organisations to build capacity for social justice, belonging, connection and pride in communities. Meaghan has a special interest in how children, young people and adults participate in climate disaster recovery and adaptation, child protection and out-of-home care, and prevention of interpersonal and sexual violence.
Godelieve Hofman-Verkuyl
Natural Disaster Response Lead
Mackillop Seasons
Building Community-Capacity to Support Rural Children and Young People’s Disaster-Recover, and Resilience in East Gippsland
Abstract
Natural disasters disrupt the lives of children and young people, along with the broader community, leaving in their wake trauma and uncertainty. Beyond emergency responses, building community capacity to support children and young people’s disaster recovery is critical for their wellbeing, resilience and the sustainability of rural communities. From 2019-2024 we worked in East Gippsland and NSW communities where children and young people experienced multiple bushfire seasons, ongoing floods and storm events, drought, and COVID-19 in their critical transition years. Our work involved:
• raising awareness about children and young people’s experiences of disaster, loss, and grief
• providing evidence-based training with adults in children and young people’s lives to support children and young people to navigate the loss, change and grief associated with disaster
• building the capacity of community networks, leaders and stakeholders to support children and young people’s participation in recovery and future disaster preparedness, and
• directly supporting children and young people with evidence-based wellbeing programs.
We used developmental evaluation to explore the practices associated with CCB-DR - Community Capacity Building for children and young people’s Disaster Recovery - and the socio-ecological conditions that enabled and constrained practices.
In this session we share our work in East Gippsland rural communities, and recommendations for enhancing rural community capacity to support children and young people’s recovery and wellbeing in the wake of ongoing disasters and involve them in climate adaptation. We explore how we built on established relationships, explored need in each community, and collaborated with local schools, recovery and disaster mental health services to tailor activities that built capacity to provide evidence-based wellbeing supports in each community. Our session will include links to short video feedback from East Gippsland community members in 2023-4 and young people in southern NSW during a unique ecological grief workshop.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Adults, services and schools in children and young people’s lives don’t always considering their experiences, capabilities as distinct from the families and systems they are part of, and the importance of listening to their unique perspectives and contributions.
2. Building capacity, knowledge and awareness of adults in children and young people’s lives can make a big difference in children’s wellbeing.
3. Children and young people experience ecological grief, loss and change following disaster and we need to address this when we working in the space of recovery and resilience.
• raising awareness about children and young people’s experiences of disaster, loss, and grief
• providing evidence-based training with adults in children and young people’s lives to support children and young people to navigate the loss, change and grief associated with disaster
• building the capacity of community networks, leaders and stakeholders to support children and young people’s participation in recovery and future disaster preparedness, and
• directly supporting children and young people with evidence-based wellbeing programs.
We used developmental evaluation to explore the practices associated with CCB-DR - Community Capacity Building for children and young people’s Disaster Recovery - and the socio-ecological conditions that enabled and constrained practices.
In this session we share our work in East Gippsland rural communities, and recommendations for enhancing rural community capacity to support children and young people’s recovery and wellbeing in the wake of ongoing disasters and involve them in climate adaptation. We explore how we built on established relationships, explored need in each community, and collaborated with local schools, recovery and disaster mental health services to tailor activities that built capacity to provide evidence-based wellbeing supports in each community. Our session will include links to short video feedback from East Gippsland community members in 2023-4 and young people in southern NSW during a unique ecological grief workshop.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Adults, services and schools in children and young people’s lives don’t always considering their experiences, capabilities as distinct from the families and systems they are part of, and the importance of listening to their unique perspectives and contributions.
2. Building capacity, knowledge and awareness of adults in children and young people’s lives can make a big difference in children’s wellbeing.
3. Children and young people experience ecological grief, loss and change following disaster and we need to address this when we working in the space of recovery and resilience.
Biography
Godelieve leads the Natural Disaster Response team at Mackillop Seasons, overseeing a dedicated group of Community Resilience Officers who offer crucial on-the-ground support to communities affected by disasters. Her role involves enhancing local recovery capabilities, fostering preparedness, and ensuring sustainable community resilience. With a robust background in community and social services, Godelieve has dedicated her career to supporting families, children, and youth through psychoeducation, case management, and coaching. Her passion lies in promoting the well-being of children, young adults, and communities, with a particular focus on climate disaster recovery, adaptation, and preparedness initiatives.
Host
Lise Saunders
Event Coordinator
AST Management
Justine White
Event Manager
AST Management
