Stories of community recovery

Read about strength, resilience and the outcomes of community-led recovery. Warning: The content on this page discusses floods, storms, fires and other emergencies.

This may be distressing for some individuals.

If you or someone you know is struggling with the emotional effects of these events, please see our Recovery services, wellbeing and support page.

Stories from those with lived experience

Listening to and understanding the experiences of communities and individuals before, during and after emergencies provides valuable insights that help us learn, improve and plan for future events.

This section showcases stories of resilient recovery and the importance of working with communities to build collective strength. It includes community members who have faced disasters and those who support the recovery process.

By learning from these experiences, we can strengthen our support and plan for community-led recovery.

Planning for major emergencies

Aireys Inlet exercises bushfire preparedness

Local and regional agencies gather to simulate a bushfire scenario and test relief strategies in the event of a major emergency along the Great Ocean Road.

Recovery after the October 2022 Victorian floods

Echuca Primary School Hands on Learning program children sitting outside on top of building supplies and holding up wooden frames for their outside project

Echuca’s youngest building their own recovery

When Emergency Recovery Victoria decommissioned its operational hub, local school kids from Echuca Primary School jumped at the chance to recycle whatever they could cart away as part of their Hands on Learning program.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage assessment protects sites of significance

At a flood-damaged home in Kialla, on Yorta Yorta country, potential sites of significant Aboriginal cultural heritage are being protected.

Aspen Lodge Caravan Park

A case study about how Emergency Recovery Victoria’s Clean-up Program worked with the park owners to help rebuild the park following the October 2022 Victorian floods.

Recovery after the June 2021 flood and storm

Elephants at Werribee Open Range Zoo enjoying new enclosure and using trunks to spray dirt

Elephants give new life to storm-damaged trees

Storm-damaged trees from across Victoria have found a new purpose – enhancing the lives of 9 Asian elephants at Werribee Open Range Zoo.

Barwon’s root balls – nature’s fish hotels

After the June 2021 Victorian floods and storms, storm damaged root balls found a new purpose – helping rehabilitate fish populations in rivers in Victoria.

Rebuilding after the storm

A case study about rebuilding after the June 2021 flood and storm. Michael and Marilyn’s story

Supporting recovery after the storm

Shane and Diana, managers of the Lake Jubilee Holiday Park talking to our film crew about their experience during the June 2021 Flood and Storm.

Transforming green waste into usable timber products at Romsey

Transforming green waste into usable timber products at Romsey: a case study

Rescued root balls breathing life into community fishing ponds

The re-imagination of a disused water treatment plant and 2 ponds has resulted in a new haven for both fish and fishing enthusiasts, thanks to rescued root balls.

Recovery after 2019-20 Eastern Victoria bushfires

Man in a green hat and brown shirt kneels as he holds a plant in demonstration to a large crowd of people

‘Fire for Food’ place-based training fosters healing on Country

The Black Duck Foods program harnesses the expertise of Aboriginal people in East Gippsland to teach about food production using traditional fire and land management practices.

Image of children standing in front of Sarsfield photography snaps strung on a fence benhind them

Snap-happy children lead healing for the Sarsfield community

An uplifting photography project has helped the children of Sarsfield recover after the 2019-20 Eastern Victoria bushfires.

Yackandandah powers up for a resilient future

This 2-year initiative is aimed at ensuring Yackandandah’s energy preparedness for sustained outages and emergencies. Funded by Emergency Recovery Victoria, Totally Renewable Yackandandah (TRY) has collaborated with emergency service providers and the community to enhance the town’s resilience.

Mallacoota residents surfing the waves of recovery

Reclink Australia has been helping Mallacoota residents re-engage with their environment following the 2019– 2020 Eastern Victorian bushfires.

Safety & emergencies

Building pride and resilience in Victoria’s north-east

LINE Wangaratta Pride Hub is part of the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) REJUVENATE program. The program, designed to develop local leadership and accelerate rural entrepreneurship, received grant funding from Emergency Recovery Victoria after the 2019–20 Eastern Victoria bushfires.

Economic Growth Statement