Community organisations get help to benefit from disaster support - Blue Mountains
30 June 2022
A Community Development Worker has been funded in the Blue Mountains to assist community organisations with opportunities to build resilience and capacity to support their neighbourhoods face future disasters.
Following an EOI process Wentworth Healthcare, provider of the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network, has funded Gateway Family Services to engage the Disaster Recovery Community Development Worker. Gateway was integral to supporting individuals after the bushfires in 2019 and 2020/21 through their Step by Step program and will use this experience to support existing and emerging community groups with training, support and guidance.
Wentworth Healthcare CEO, Lizz Ready said the Community Development Worker roles were developed in response to extensive stakeholder consultation that revealed while there has been a significant amount of funding provided to communities, there are few people available to assist with making the most of these opportunities.
"We have seen a huge amount of investment into our vulnerable communities that have been affected by drought, bushfires and floods which is fabulous, but it’s a lot of information for already stretched community organisations and members to navigate,” she said.
The Community Development Worker role will develop strong links with community groups, supporting them to build sustainable networks that enhance resilience and capacity. The role will help to identify available funding opportunities, what’s involved in the application process and provide relevant skills training and guidance on what to do once they may receive the funding,” said Ms Reay.
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