Harvesting Resilient Futures in Southern Grampians and Glenelg Shires
The Harvesting Resilient Futures (HRF) project 2021-2023 set out to understand local community resilience across the Southern Grampians and Glenelg Shires. It brought together cross sector participants including emergency management, health, local government, community and women’s health and wellbeing.
Farmers and farming communities are constantly facing increased stressors driven by a range of factors including economic conditions, climate change, extreme events such as drought, COVID-19 and land use change. However, community resilience is complex. No single solution or organisation can alleviate the ongoing stressors faced by these communities or enable the community to respond to change and ensure community wellbeing.
HRF was one of 11 projects across the state that made up the Agriculture-dependent Community Resilience work led by the National Centre for Farmer Health. funded by the Department of Health Victoria (Mental Health and Wellbeing Division).
The final report was released in January 2024. The project strengthened stakeholders’ confidence in their ability to take action to increase community resilience. Stakeholders are leading responsive, flexible and locally led actions. These include;
- Community Connectors Network (facilitated by the BSWPHU) – establishment of a network to facilitate ongoing connection between cross sector stakeholders who have local knowledge of community stressors, capacity and capability.
- Community Connection Activities (led by Casterton Memorial Hospital) – a co-designed process bringing community together to build a strong social network and foster a sense of belonging.
- Community Capacity Building (led by Western District Health Service) – to increase community engagement skills for active listening and participation, and leadership of diverse groups.
Further information: Community Partnerships Team, Barwon South West Public Health Unit:
Rowena Wylie Ebony Rhook
[email protected] [email protected]