Remarkable Success of Place-Based Organisation Improving Community Health Outcomes

The North-West Sydney corridor has been a rapidly growing region, home to a population of over one million people. Parts of Blacktown and The Hills Shire Local Government Areas form part of the Hawkesbury-Nepean flood plan and have been hit with repeated floods over the last few years.

The Wellbeing Project is a prime example of how community organisations work to support local communities through disasters. North West Community Services (NWCS) implemented a wide range of initiatives, striving to promote community connection, improve mental and physical health, and disaster preparedness and recovery. The work has resulted in a report, providing insight on the value of focusing on local relationships as an effective way to build resilience in our communities.

With the support of WESTIR Ltd, the analysis and findings in the Wellbeing Project report demonstrate the missing pieces for building community resilience and disaster response and recovery. It also shows the ongoing value of the investment in building trust and social connections in local neighbourhoods. Strong and connected communities are often the first line of defense in a disaster so trust in services and public institutions can have significant positive impacts on how communities engage and recover from these events. 

Michelle Quinn, Executive Director at the Western Sydney Primary Health Network, shared, “Looking forward, we know we need to prepare more proactively for the natural disasters that will continue to occur in our region, with more focus on long-term planning that accounts for the unique needs of different communities before, during, and after those challenging times. The success of the Wellbeing Project reinforces the importance of place-based community organisations in understanding the health and social needs of a local community before, during, and after those untoward events, so the most appropriate supports are made available. Organisations like North West Community Services, who have a strong history and established roots within some of our fastest growing communities, are well placed to understand, advocate for, and address local needs. We are delighted to announce the continuation of funding for the Wellbeing Project for a further year.” 

The approach taken as part of the Wellbeing Project demonstrated that a local, place-based approach engaging with local leaders and community strengths results in better outcomes for all agencies involved in the disaster response, significant “value add” to resources, sharing of information and ultimately, better outcomes for residents that are flood affected. Angela Van Dyke, CEO of North West Community Services Inc, stated “As a local neighbourhood centre, we are on the ground every day, we see emerging issues quickly, and we have strong and trusted connections with diverse stakeholders in our community.” 

Reinforcing the value of the Wellbeing Project, Warren Kirby MP, Member for Riverstone, stated, “I was involved in the recovery effort alongside NWCS during flooding events that occurred in Riverstone that contributed to this report. Based on my experiences I completely agree with the findings that trauma-informed place-based recovery centres are essential for both immediate disaster response and long-term resilience building in regions susceptible to natural disasters.”