Community strengthening initiative for Cockatoo Township

ECHO Inc. have just signed a contract with Anglicare Australia to become the financial auspice partner for a community strengthening program in nearby Cockatoo township.

Under the agreement, a social worker will work with selected families in the town to overcome difficulties that threaten to overwhelm them and develop programs that will develop cohesion and resilience within the community, especially including their youth.

Studies have shown conclusively that the ability of communities to recover from natural disasters long-term (given that Cockatoo is in one of the highest wildfire-prone areas in the world) is a function of resilience, a sense of identity and mutual support, within the populace.

The source of the funding is our Federal Government and we are deeply grateful for their concern for our well-being at the local level.

Community strengthening initiative in Boort

As a direct result of the highly succesful program in Whittlesea after the disatrous bushfires in 2009, ECHO were invited, by the Loddon Shire Council, to become involved in the community recovery program in Northern Victoria following the destructive floods during the summer of 2010/2011. A team of young people from Emerald staged an event over the long weekend that was attended by many families and has been adjudged a great success. Despite the taxing nature of the situation, many meaningfull relationships were forged and and both the local youngsters from Boort, as well as the visitors, greatly benefitted from the experience.