What we are trying to achieve through the Six Steps is community organisations that can 'bounce back' after disasters and emergencies, because when they don't bounce back, people and communities experiencing poverty and disadvantage are likely to be severely affected. However, community organisations are generally not well prepared for disasters and emergencies. Community organisations need to step up to their role in building organisations and communities that are resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies.
Important Outcomes
The primary indicators of vulnerability to disasters and emergencies are poverty, disadvantage and social isolation. Because of the critical role they play in supporting people experiencing poverty and disadvantage to manage everyday adversity as well as times of crisis, community organisations need to step up to their role in building organisations and communities that are resilient in the face of disasters and emergencies.
Climate change is significantly increasing the likelihood of extreme weather events and their severity when they occur.
The community sector has unique and unparalleled specialist skills and assets to assist clients and communities to both prepare for and recover from disasters and emergencies.
The community sector provides essential services and advocates for social justice. Ensuring our organisations are disaster resilient is critical to ensuring we are able to perform these roles into the future.
Community organisations stepping up is consistent with having a risk management framework.
The community sector has a strong history of advocating for the policies needed to create a fairer Australia at national, state and local community levels. As disasters and emergencies and climate change disproportionately impact people experiencing poverty and disadvantage, we need to ensure that we are a part of relevant policy discussion at each of these levels.
