By Aaron Cordy
IN the aftermath of the October 2022 floods, one thing was abundantly clear: many in the community needed more support. But where was it going to come from when local services and outside agencies can’t respond to everyone in need when a disaster strikes?
The Resilience in Recovery program, which was funded by the state and federal governments and run through Greater Shepparton City Council, empowered the community to be emergency-ready. RIR’s outreach reached small communities, multicultural communities, and people who felt marginalised when they needed help the most.
“It is a surreal and confronting experience to speak to someone who could’ve lost their farm/house/assets and ask what would help them recover. This conversation never got easier, but its impact on me changed. What started off as a challenge turned into an opportunity to connect with community members, to understand their loss and help rebuild a sense of community and belonging. It was a job that filled my cup but also kept me grounded at the same time,” said former RIR member Schenell D’costa.
RIR used a scatter-gun approach to engage with the community, focusing on grassroots support that built resilience and fostered connections that would last long after the program concluded. They had incredible guests bring expertise and inspiration to their programs, including Gardening Australia’s Sophie Thomson, The Unbreakable Farmer Warren Davies, Paralympians Col Pearse and Vanessa Low and many more. They held community management plans, barbeques and catch ups, information sessions, panel discussions, the Undrea concert, the First 72 Hours campaign and the incredibly successful immersive art exhibition, Disruption.
“The Resilience in Recovery program was a deliberate investment in our people, designed to ensure that the recovery process was guided by the voices and unique needs of our most flood-impacted communities,” said Council’s Manager of Emergency Management and Resilience, Belinda Conna.
“By moving beyond infrastructure repairs, the program bridged the gap between crisis and stability – equipping our residents with the tools, connections, and confidence to lead their own recovery from the ground up.
“Our success was built on the understanding that recovery is too vast for any one entity to tackle alone. It was the strength of our partnerships, bridging the gap between government agencies, local organisations and the community, that turned a challenge into a shared foundation for long-term community strength.”
Success and impact can be hard to measure, but in a fitting end to the RIR program, Council’s Emergency Management and Resilience Team, which is what RIR morphed into, won the Local Government Award at the 2025 Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence.
“Over the course of the program, the most important thing we built as a team was trust with community. I hope RIR’s legacy is meaningful relationships, and therefore, meaningful project outcomes. I hope we were able to be reliable, honest and collaborative partners for the community through their recovery journeys,” said Schenell.
For more information on the First 72 Hours and to download a copy of the First 72 Hours emergency brochure and plan template in a range of languages, visit https://greatershepparton.com.au/community/emergencies/72-hours.
