Rural People: Resilient Futures

The Rural People: Resilient Futures Project aims increase our understanding vulnerability across the Southern Grampians Shire. A particular focus is on defining who is vulnerable, what they are vulnerable to, how this will vary in the future and what can be done to manage this varying vulnerability with a focus on climate change impacts. Southern Grampians Shire Council (SGSC) has received funding through the State Government Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) through the Victorian Adaptation and Sustainability (VAS) Partnership to facilitate this action research pilot. This collaboration is being led by Southern Grampians and Glenelg Primary Care Partnership with Southern Grampians Shire Council and RMIT University. The project will run until March 2015. Rural People Resilient Futures was launched at the Hamilton Sustainable Living Expo in May by the Nationals candidate for Lowan Ms Emma Kealy representing Hugh Delahunty.

The Rural People: Resilient Futures Project final report has been launched at two events during June. A local launch was held at Mulleraterong Centre in Hamilton where project participants and interested stakeholders celebrated the project outcomes. The report was launched in Hamilton by Alison Dunn, Communications Co-ordinator and Meg Lewis who is a client at Mulleraterong. The Emergency Services Commissioner, Craig Lapsley launched the report at RMIT University in Melbourne noting the significance of local connections and the key relationship with health and community service agencies.

Rural People; Resilient Futures Final Report 2015

Rural People Resilient Futures Case Studies: Six community organisations and health agencies documented their experiences of Rural People: Resilient Futures Project in individualised case studies:

Balmoral Bush Nursing Centre

Hamilton Community House

Mental Illness Fellowship Aspire

Mulleraterong

Southern Grampians Shire Council

Western District Health Service

Short Film

A short film has been made by Luminescence Productions and the Rural People: Resilient Futures Team documenting the process and findings of the project so far. This project has really uncovered a model for building resilience using the existing relationships and leadership of SGGPCP to work with partner agencies to build their capacity to reduce the vulnerability of their community through climate change adaptation. The film will be launched on Friday October 31^st at the Hamilton Cinema at 11.30am. Please RSVP to Melanie.russell@wdhs.net to register your attendance. If you would like to view the film please click on the youtube link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxG1pZ5EuGk&noredirect=1

For the full invitation please click on the location: Hamilton or Balmoral.

Please RSVP by 27/10/14 to Melanie.russell@wdhs.net or 555 18475

About the project

Project on a page

Stakeholder update Bulletins:

201409_Stakeholder Bulletin

201407_Stakeholder Bulletin

201403_Stakeholder Bulletin

Alongside stakeholder and community consultations, a systematic review of the academic and grey literature was undertaken. A copy of the literature review can be found here:

Rural People Resilient Futures Literature Review Final

Unpacking Resilience and Understanding Complexity Workshop

As part of the Rural People: Resilient Futures Project, the research team of Dr Hartmut Fuenfgeld and Alianne Rance facilitated a workshop for stakeholders as a platform to further understand resilience at a local level while learning a range of participatory methods and soft systems methodologies.

20140612 Flyer

Unpacking Resilience and Understanding Complexity Workshop Handbook

SSM workshop presentation

Building capacity of agencies to plan for climate change

Phase 2 of Rural People: Resilient Futures involves working with SGGPCP partner agencies to build their capacity to adapt in a changing climate to reduce the impacts on their service and vulnerability of their community. Stakeholders are working through an action workbook with the RP:RF team, identifying impacts and opportunities for action.

 Plan, Prepare Lead Work

A workshop will be held with stakeholders to work collaboratively to share ideas, develop scenarios and actions for future entitled Plan, Prepare. Lead.

A very recent policy paper for state government outlines adaptation planning for community service organisations and primary care partnerships.

Implementing Adaptation Policy Brief

Stakeholder Workshop September