Future Proof
Join the Disaster Resilience Youth Reference Group
Are you aged between 12 and 25 and live in the Rural City of Wangaratta? Then we would love to hear from you, in our Disaster Resilience Youth Reference Group.
‘Future Proof: Young People, Disaster Recovery and (Re)building Communities’ is a project that aims to provide bushfire affected young people aged 12-25 skills to improve their resilience, contribute to bushfire recovery in their communities, and pursue qualifications and jobs as part of the bushfire recovery process.
This project received a grant funding from the Working for Victoria Fund Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program and is a partnership between Rural City of Wangaratta and the Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic).
Young people are the experts in their own lives so we’re calling on them to help us lead bushfire recovery efforts following the Black Summer bushfires
The Future Proof project will put young people at the centre of bushfire recovery efforts and ensure they are:
- supported in their own recovery
- that their unique perspective and ability to contribute is recognised, valued and utilised for community recovery
The project will increase qualifications and skills for local young people, ensure greater connection and retention of young people in local communities, facilitate contributions by young people to future disaster preparedness and response, and build strong connections between youth services across partnering LGAs at-risk from disaster.
The key outcomes of the project will be:
• At least 150 young people engaged, (re)connected and supported, via place-based bushfire recovery programs and events and expert strengths-based youth work approaches
• 15 young people supported to attain locally useful qualifications (public safety, firefighting, emergency response, youth work, community development, mental health)
• 10 young people upskilled to participate meaningfully in local recovery committees and governance processes and other leadership opportunities
• 10 young people upskilled in public speaking, project management, peer facilitation and other relevant community activation expertise
Disasters have a profound social impact on individuals and communities. Our instinct, in the face of disasters is to ensure the safety of vulnerable people, including children and young people.
However, in previous disaster events, young people have been categorised as passive disaster victims without agency or the ability to meaningfully contribute.
As a result, young people are not actively involved in the design and implementation of disaster management.
Our Future Proof project has the objective of upskilling the community to support young people’s meaningful participation in a safe and inclusive way, ensuring they are active in the recovery and planning space.
Disaster Resilience Youth Reference Group will consist of 10 young people aged 12-25, living, studying, working or playing in the Rural City of Wangaratta.
Members of the Disaster Resilience Youth Reference Group will need to commit to 2.5 hours fortnightly to provide advice and participate in meetings and events that promote resilience-building in bushfire affected communities. Members will be given access to free training in project management, emergency preparedness, public speaking, governance processes, leadership, peer facilitation and other relevant community activation expertise.
Participating young people will be renumerated for their time and expertise, with a base rate of $30 per hour.
Additionally, Disaster Resilience Youth Reference Group members will be connected with other passionate young people keen to make a change in their local communities.
We’re currently seeking young people to oversee and actively drive decision making for this project. Submit your expression of interest to be part of our Disaster Resilience Youth Proof Reference Group now.
Get involved here