Indigenous community leaders and disaster resilience experts have gathered in Lismore for three days to build awareness, share knowledge, connect, and support an Indigenous-led conversation on disaster resilience.
The National Indigenous Disaster Resilience (NIDR) initiative is gathering at Lismore Showground – a central point for emergency flood support and relief during the region’s flood emergency – for the immersive three day event, that began this morning, to highlight the importance of Indigenous leadership in disaster response and recovery.
The NIDR Gathering will feature keynotes, plenary sessions, workshops, yarning circles and on-Country activities. The Welcome Reception will be hosted by the Koori Mail, a local Indigenous media company which led the community response during and after the catastrophic 2022 floods.
This is part of Monash University’s Fire to Flourish program that seeks to advance the resilience and recovery of Indigenous communities in the face of increasing disasters.
Bhiamie Williamson, a proud Euahlayi man and NIDR Research Lead, said the event was a chance for representatives across disaster response and emergency sectors to support Indigenous-led conversations on disaster resilience.
‘It has been 18 months since the 2022 floods that devastated the Lismore region, this is an opportunity to highlight and celebrate some of the local leaders and successes that helped to rebuild and provide flood support to a community in need,’ Mr Williamson said.
‘Since 2019, more than 60 per cent of Local Government Areas (LGAs) that experience disaster events – like Lismore – have an Indigenous population higher than the national average. Yet, disaster response in Australia has not sufficiently taken Indigenous peoples’ distinct needs, nor strengths, into account. We are hoping to address this by connecting the relevant leaders that work in this area.’
The gathering builds on the goal of the NIDR 2023 Summit, the first ever event dedicated to connecting Indigenous disaster resilience leaders with a community of non-Indigenous practitioners working in disaster resilience and emergency management sectors.
Professor Briony Rogers, Chief Executive Officer of Fire to Flourish said the NIDR Gathering is a wonderful opportunity for attendees to hear and learn from Indigenous leaders, about how Australia’s Indigenous peoples experience disasters.
‘There is so much knowledge to be gained and by listening deeply we can improve the structures and processes of our emergency management and disaster resilience for everyone.’
Mr Wiliamson said that championing indigenous leadership in disaster resilience is pivotal to create lasting change in the structures, institutions and processes of emergency management and disaster response.
‘As climate change fuels more and more major disasters, it is vital that we understand the unique needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. If we don’t understand how disasters impact us in ways that are different to all others, we will be unable to support our communities in response and recovery,’ Mr Williamson said.
The event follows the National High Risk Weather Summit held in Canberra where the first ever ‘Planning Evacuations with Indigenous Communities Guide’ was launched by members of the National Indigenous Disaster Resilience team.
‘As traditional owners and custodians of Australia’s lands and waters, Indigenous peoples must be leading agents in enhancing the resilience of both their lands, Country and communities,” Mr Williamson said. The NIDR Gathering will be held between 24 – 26 September at Lismore Showgrounds. The event is hosted in collaboration with Jagun Alliance, Resilient Lismore and Koori Mail.’
To register, or to find out more about the event, please visit Fire to Flourish.
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