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Wednesday 13 May 2009

By James O'Farrell, Kairos Catholic Journal

The Bushfire Appeal Committee, set up to advise Archbishop Denis Hart on use of the donations given to the Archbishop’s Charitable Fund Bushfire Appeal, has approved funding for a long term project – the Bushfire Community Recovery Project to support communities affected by the bushfires in February this year.

The Bushfire Appeal Committee has approved a commitment of $1.8m over a three year period to fund the project.
The proposal was developed by Janet Cribbes for Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV) in her role as Bushfire Community Recovery Project Coordinator. Janet worked closely with Fr Greg Bourke, Bushfire Recovery Chaplain and Jerome Santamaria, a seminarian on placement with Fr Greg.
That communities feel that they are able to reshape their future is a vital aspect of the program. This is a long term commitment to the communities affected.
During March, Janet consulted with the parishes of Yea, Alexandra, Diamond Creek, Lilydale, Epping and Kilmore. She spoke with many service organisations and government bodies – meeting with head office and regional representatives of the Department of Human Services (DHS), representatives of local government and councillors, local police, non government agencies, school principals and regional staff of the Catholic Education Office Melbourne.
Extensive consultations have also been held with Catholic social service agencies (Centacare Catholic Family Services which is the lead agency in the coordinated response, St Vincent de Paul Society, Centacare Gippsland, Jesuit Social Services, MacKillop Family Services and Good Shepherd Youth and Family Services) which would be collaborators in a co-ordinated response from the Catholic community. 
Concern for the well being of people in makeshift accommodation over the coming winter months has been raised. Strains on marital and family relationships are evident. The mental health of children and adolescents is another area of real concern. Also, employment options for many people in the affected areas have contracted or disappeared. 
There is a real need to create opportunities for communities to come together in positive affirming settings to share their experiences and strengthen each others’ resolve to work through the hard times - to re-establish lives, the normalcy of family life, livelihood and communities.
The scale of the human and organisational challenge is enormous.
The Bushfire Community Recovery Project will:
  • establish hospitality and welcome spaces in townships
  • strengthen provision of human services to cater for increased demand and fill in  gaps, especially during the winter months
  • work alongside  local communities to create a vision and the ‘how to’ of building a sustainable community for the future.

At this time, hospitality and welcome spaces are expected to be established in Yea, Healesville, Kinglake, Whittlesea, and Wandong.
Following further consultation with community and agency leaders, programs offering grief and loss counselling, support for couples, family therapy, and single session brief intervention therapy will be initiated.
The Catholic Archbishop’s Charitable Fund Bushfire Appeal funds will be directed to salaries for the project co-ordinator and up to 7 additional staff in specialist service and community development roles. The funds will also be directed to the new hospitality spaces to cover establishment costs, rent and on site management over the next three years.
Janet Cribbes said the project looks to build on the strength and resilience that has already been demonstrated by the affected communities. 
“We do not want to replicate, but rather complement, the good work being done by the DHS and the Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction and Recovery Authority,” Janet said.
“We shall work closely with all recovery agencies and the whole community to be inclusive and hospitable to one and all. It’s about hope, a kind heart and a ready helping hand for the courageous adults and children who are now literally ‘picking up the pieces’ and starting again.”