Resilient Lismore will host a ‘Disaster Ready Together’ Summit this Thursday and Friday 7 and 8 of March, at Lismore University.

This first of its kind event in regional NSW will bring together Northern Rivers-based community sector organisations, disaster recovery practitioners, community organisers and government agencies.

“This is a quality, practice-focused event that will give people working in community services a critical and timely opportunity to learn from leading experts in the disaster recovery and resilience sector,” said DRT Project Coordinator Jenny Bird.

“Participants will share regional, national and international knowledge to help reduce risks to the sector when disasters strike in the future. We know they are going to happen so we want to ensure we prepare ourselves as best we can. This Summit will equip participants with the knowledge to do so.”

A programme of concurrent sessions will run across the two days, with three keynote addresses and a final panel titled 'Working Together'. Topics include building community resilience, emergency management, building organisational and staff resilience, P-CEP (building preparedness with clients) and strengths-based approaches to populations most vulnerable to disasters.

There will also be a day of dedicated workshops on Wednesday 6 March.

Confirmed keynote speakers are:

●     Dr Kate Brady - Senior Research Fellow, UNSW, Advisor Australian Red Cross

●     Mr Bhiamie Williamson - Euahlayi Man. Senior Research Fellow, Monash University. Project Lead, National Indigenous Disaster Resilience

●     Associate Professor Michelle Villeneuve - Deputy Director, Centre for Disability Research and Policy, University of Sydney

“This Summit is an opportunity to bring national and international perspectives on disaster preparedness to a regional centre and is able to take place due to the generosity of our partners The Reconstruction Authority, NCOSS, Southern Cross University and Invercauld House”, said Resilient Lismore's Executive Director, Elly Bird

For more information, please visit the Resilient Lismore website or contact Jenny Bird (DRT Project Coordinator) on 0459 886 731 or Aliison Kelly (Summit Organiser) on 0428 216 079.

Disaster Ready Together Summit

• When: Thursday 7th and Friday 8th March
• Where: Southern Cross University, Lismore, Whitebrook Theatre