Lessons Learned by Community Recovery Committees of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires

Lessons Learned by Community Recovery Committees of the 2009 Victorian bushfires: Advice we offer to communities impacted by disaster is a reasonably short document that summarises the hard-won lessons from community leaders following the 2009 Victorian ‘Black Saturday’ bushfires.

The document was pulled together by representatives from some of the Community Recovery Committees that formed following the 2009 bushfires. These groups all looked, evolved and operated differently, but had the common mission of advocating for their communities as they recovered.

At the time it was released, this document was clutched tightly by people working in recovery who were desperate to make sure that this information could be shared with others in the future. As time has gone by, less people know about it but the information is still incredibly relevant.

At a time where so many communities and organisations are grappling with the concept of community-led recovery after major events, this seems like a good time to be reminding everyone of this gem. The best part about it is how relevant it still is more than a decade on. The most heart-breaking part about it is how relevant it still is more than a decade on.

Click on this link to check out the Lessons Learned by Community Recovery Committees of the 2009 Victorian bushfires: Advice we offer to communities impacted by disaster (hosted on the Australian Red Cross website).