Case Studies / THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Victoria showcases community-led resilience initiatives
KEY information
GOVERNMENT EVENT
delivered 2023
stakeholders
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT VICTORIA (EMV)
VICTORIAN COMMUNITY GROUPS
Exploring community connections in Victoria
Opportunity
Resilient Ready approached Emergency Management Victoria to run an event with Professor Daniel Aldrich. We wanted to create an opportunity to bring together Victorian community groups that have been building resilience in their areas, driving action and advocacy within their communities.
Given the diverse nature of the projects, a gathering would allow the community groups to share their social capital initiatives, experiences and lessons learned with resilience experts. The idea was warmly received.
Our approach
Not only did Resilient Ready bring its own business network expertise to the table, but we facilitated the involvement of global social capital expert Professor Daniel Aldrich.
The Showcase was hosted by Amanda Leck, GAICD, former Deputy Commissioner Capability & Risk, at the Victorian Emergency Management Institute (VEMI) in Mount Macedon.
Former Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp gave the welcoming address, which focused on building networks across communities. In all, eight community groups participated in the Showcase.
Included were two joint projects by Resilient Ready and the Country Fire Authority: Disaster Ready Great Ocean Road & Phillip Island.
This was a great opportunity for me to hear first hand how Victorian community group embed social ties into their projects and programs.
Professor Daniel Aldrich
Global expert in social capital + social infrastructure
Social infrastructure supports social ties
Outcomes
Professor Aldrich took the audience through a detailed presentation, demonstrating how societies fall back on building and rebuilding physical infrastructure while overlooking the effectiveness of social infrastructure.
He showed how social businesses, community spaces, parks, and places of worship are underappreciated for their ability to build bridging social infrastructure, and how communities with better access to community gathering places have greater resilience to shocks.
The Community Showcase was a great forum for exploring Victorian community connection initiatives, and identified a clear gap around a lack of linking ties, which connect community groups to those in power and authority.
