Community members from Lindenow, Flaggy Creek, Glenaladale, Fernbank, Hillside and Lindenow South came together to strengthen local emergency preparedness and help shape a Community Emergency Management Plan.
Key outcomes from the day:
Why this matters
When communities are connected, informed and prepared, people are safer. By bringing local knowledge together and planning ahead, communities are better equipped to:
Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, experience and commitment to making their community safer.
A special thank you to ABV Skilled Business Professionals Petrina Yates and Andrew, who generously volunteered their time and expertise to support the workshop. Petrina and Andrew facilitated group discussions and workshop sessions, helping participants explore Community Emergency Management Planning and identify practical ways to strengthen local disaster preparedness.
Image, L to R, Natscha Wernick ABV, Andrew Champion Volunteer, Michelle Shaw, ABV & Petrina Yates, Volunteer
Andrew brought extensive experience in social research, program evaluation and strategy, having led more than 100 research and consulting projects across sectors including transport, defence, health, disability and human services. His expertise in community engagement, stakeholder consultation and translating complex information into practical action helped guide discussions that captured local knowledge, experiences and priorities, ensuring they could be incorporated into community emergency planning.
With almost three decades of experience in social work, Petrina Yates brought valuable expertise in counselling, disaster response and recovery, volunteer wellbeing, and trauma-informed practice. Her experience in critical incident support, Psychological First Aid and emergency services volunteering, combined with her calm leadership and practical, solution-focused approach, helped create a supportive environment where participants could confidently share experiences, build connections and contribute to planning for safer, more resilient communities.
We also extend our sincere thanks to the ABV team, Country Fire Authority (CFA) representatives, SES, Red Cross and East Gippsland Shire Council for their ongoing collaboration, support and commitment to helping local communities build resilience, strengthen preparedness and improve community safety before, during and after emergencies.
All support is provided at no cost, funded through the Disaster Ready Fund, supported by the Australian and Victorian governments.
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“Communities have the solutions, we help bring them together.” – Kari Edie, Australian Business Volunteers
There are many reasons a community may need the Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) – building resilience after a bushfire, bolstering local business or even assisting with water treatment options. Census data helps them understand population changes, workforce trends and local challenges, to help plan for the future.
“Rural Australia has the ideas, they know what they want. They know their region. They know their area. We bring the expertise to accelerate those ideas,” says Kari Edie, Head of Marketing and Communications at ABV.
The not-for-profit links communities with business experts to upskill organisations from Queensland’s Fraser and Central coasts to the rural towns of East and Central Gippsland. In what usually begins as a strategic plan for the future, volunteers ask questions like: what does the community need to thrive? And how can we get there?
Sometimes the answers are practical, like helping a main street business assess profit and loss. In East Gippsland they helped businesses learn about their disaster risk through an interactive hazard mapping tool. In one small town, they engaged their corporate partners to help solve a long-standing water treatment issue.
Before ABV can begin their work, they look to Census data. It helps find communities that need their help, to get a picture of the region, and to secure government support. It allows them to understand how Australia is changing, what challenges different areas of the country are facing and how they can grow their operations - that’s why every answer matters.
“Good programs need good data”, says CEO Liz Mackinlay, “This year’s Census will be critical to what we do.”
For ABV, data gives a detailed view of a place including age, income, employment, housing, disability, and cultural background. No two communities are the same, and as Australia changes economically, culturally and environmentally, the needs of regional communities are changing with it.
New data from the 2026 Census will help ABV keep pace. Allowing them to respond to emerging challenges, support more communities, and build resilience where it’s needed most.
ABV worked with Fraser Coast Advocacy and Inclusion Inc. (FCAI Inc.) through a Skilled Business engagement to help strengthen the organisation’s foundations and clarify its future direction. The focus was on developing an inclusive, member‑led strategy grounded in the lived experience of people with disability. The result was a practical Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 that is ambitious without being unrealistic, and that provides a clear pathway for meaningful, long‑term change on the Fraser Coast.
Listening to members was central to the engagement. Surveys, online workshops and a facilitated face‑to‑face session in Hervey Bay created multiple ways for people to share their experiences and priorities.
These contributions shaped a shared vision for a resilient and inclusive community where people with disability are empowered and heard. Throughout the process, members highlighted systemic barriers such as limited access, transport challenges and exclusion from decision‑making, while also identifying opportunities to strengthen local advocacy, leadership and community participation.
Many reflected that the process felt respectful and that their perspectives were accurately represented.
The in‑person workshop, supported through the Resilient CARE program, allowed for deeper discussion and stronger connections. Held in a fully accessible local workplace, the session brought together FCAI members, carers and staff from ABV and The Good Shift to refine priorities and focus on how the strategy could be put into action.
From this work, four clear areas of focus emerged: influencing systems and services, engaging and educating the community, strengthening advocacy, and building robust governance and organisational sustainability.
The completed Strategic Plan gives FCAI Inc. a solid platform for action. With clear measures of success and a commitment to regular review, it supports the organisation to build partnerships, strengthen leadership by people with disability and play a stronger role in shaping a more inclusive Fraser Coast. With ABV’s skilled support, FCAI is well placed to move from planning to implementation and to turn lived experience into lasting influence and impact.
Australian Business Volunteers has been working closely with the Nowa Nowa community to explore sustainable wastewater solutions that can support the town’s long‑term growth, protect the local environment and unlock new opportunities. Through hands‑on workshops and site visits, residents, experts and partners came together to share insights and shape a practical path forward.
A huge thank you to Arup, who generously donated their services pro bono to help the community understand its options and build a strong evidence‑based case for future investment. Their collaborative approach ensured that local voices guided the process—reflecting what the report describes as a commitment to “achieving a high level of stakeholder engagement… to ensure that the chosen wastewater solution genuinely reflects local priorities and values.”
This work is an important step toward revitalising Nowa Nowa and strengthening the resilience of regional communities.
The Resilient Regions program is supported by the Australian and Victorian governments.
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) has been working alongside communities in East Gippsland, Latrobe and Wellington shires since 2024 through the government‑funded Resilient Regions program. We’re inviting more local organisations and small businesses to access free, tailored support from our skilled business volunteers and local team.
Our team works directly with community groups, organisations and small businesses to strengthen resilience, support growth and build long‑term capability. All support is provided at no cost, funded through the Disaster Ready Fund, supported by the Australian and Victorian governments.
ABV volunteers and corporate pro bono partners bring deep experience across community development, economic recovery and business planning. Support is tailored to local needs and may include:
See how communities have used Simtable demonstrations to strengthen local preparedness.
Read about our recent work with Orbost and District on place‑based governance.
Explore insights from our small business workshops in Mallacoota and Orbost.
Our volunteers bring practical, hands‑on experience across business management, finance, marketing, customer relations and digital solutions. Whether you’re navigating challenges, planning for growth or strengthening your organisation’s resilience, we’re here to help you build confidence and capability.
“We’re proud to support Gippsland communities to strengthen their economic and disaster resilience. Together, we can build a stronger and more resilient regional economy.”
— Michelle Shaw & Cory Lindfield, ABV Program Coordinators
If your community organisation or small business is interested in exploring how ABV can support your goals, we’d be pleased to connect. Our Program Coordinators are based in Gippsland and can meet at your convenience.
Staff from the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) have strengthened their project planning capability after taking part in a two-day Business Acumen Workshop on Country. The training brought together teams from across Country Operations and focused on practical learning built around real GLaWAC projects. Supported by ABV Volunteer facilitator Dr Ken Long, the sessions encouraged open discussion and problem solving, with the content shaped to reflect GLaWAC’s own systems, culture and priorities.
Strong engagement and clear outcomes
Participants said the workshop helped them understand how projects are planned, priced and delivered, and how their work connects to the organisation’s broader goals. Many reported feeling more confident to take on new responsibilities and more prepared to contribute to future projects. Survey results backed this up, with all participants reporting increased confidence in their business skills and rating the content, materials and facilitation highly. Staff also valued the chance to learn in a supportive environment where they could ask questions freely and work closely with colleagues from across the organisation.
A key theme in the feedback was the importance of earlier planning. Participants said they would start project conversations sooner, involve the right people earlier and keep talking with teammates to make sure the learning continues. Many also said they now have a clearer understanding of how their day-to-day tasks contribute to GLaWAC’s long term goals.
A partnership approach to capability building
The workshop was strengthened by internal leadership from GLaWAC staff including Matthew Paterson, Fiona Hammond, Maryanne Kelly, Willow Carter and Julie Dennison, whose guidance helped ensure the content matched GLaWAC’s project management practice and day to day operations. ABV’s role focused on offering practical expertise while supporting GLaWAC’s leadership to guide the direction of the training, helping create a learning environment that felt relevant and grounded in the organisation’s strengths.
Building skills for future projects
By strengthening business acumen and project planning capability, GLaWAC teams are better placed to deliver high quality projects that reflect community priorities and support long term organisational resilience. The workshop reinforced the value of clear communication, early planning and shared responsibility across teams, setting a strong foundation for future work on Country.
Community organisations interested in building their own capability through the Resilient Regions program can contact the ABV team at hello@abv.org.au
This activity is delivered through ABV’s Resilient Regions program, which is supported by the Australian and Victorian governments.
As featured in:
https://snowyrivermail.com.au/16039/training-builds-confidence-across-glawac-teams/
East Gippsland residents have embraced cutting-edge technology designed to strengthen disaster preparedness, with two Simtable demonstrations held this week in Lindenow and Mt Taylor drawing strong crowds and sparking lively discussion.
On Monday 2 December, around 25 community members gathered in Lindenow to see the Simtable in action. Local CFA commanders and captains attended alongside East Gippsland Shire Council’s Blanche Evans. The digital sand table, which projects interactive, real-time models of bushfires, floods and evacuations, proved both fascinating and practical. Attendees praised the demonstration for its clarity and relevance, noting how it helped them visualise the challenges of emergency response.
The following day, Tuesday 3 December, Mt Taylor hosted its own session, attracting 34 participants. CFA presenters Terry and Dan guided the community through scenarios showing how fire behaviour shifts with wind direction and topography. The interactive format encouraged questions and hands-on engagement, leaving participants with a stronger understanding of local vulnerabilities and the importance of preparedness. One participant summed up the mood, saying: “We need to educate the wider community – this is just so important and thank you for highlighting it.”
Together, the two events reached around 60 community members and were delivered through a collaboration between East Gippsland Shire Council, CFA and Australian Business Volunteers (ABV). The demonstrations not only raised awareness but also sparked meaningful conversations about resilience and preparedness across the region, reinforcing the value of continued community engagement.
Building Resilient Regions
The demonstrations form part of ABV’s Resilient Regions program, which helps communities prepare for, withstand and recover from natural disasters.
Resilient Regions is supported by the Australian and Victorian governments.
With the very real and devasting impact of natural hazards and disasters front of mind this High-Risk Weather Season, Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) reflects on five years of driving community-led disaster and economic resilience for empowered solutions from the bottom up.
Putting communities in the driver's seat, building local capacity, and forging lasting relationships, this work has featured 175 community projects delivered across 16 disaster affected and prone local government areas in regional and remote Australia.
While ABV as international development organisation has traditionally delivered inclusive economic and sustainable development across 34 countries in the Asia-Pacific, CEO Liz Mackinlay reflects that January 2020 marked a distinct shift for the organisation to deliver services in its own backyard.
“We were watching the catastrophic impact of the Black Summer fires devastate communities across the East Coast; impacting our volunteers, our Australian-based team, and bringing out country to standstill as homes, livelihoods, habitats and lives were taken,” ABV CEO Liz Mackinlay says.
“We had communities hurting in our own backyard, and ABV had the skills to help. Lending our hand at a time of significant national disaster was simply a no brainer.”
Liz Mackinlay, ABV CEO
ABV's CEO and Program Director drove from Sydney to the heavily fire-affected town of Cobargo in New South Wales to see where and how ABV and its volunteers could be of help.
“We approached the community’s members with sensitivity and humility – after all, they were both the first responders and the long term recovery agents of change – so we wanted to make sure we grounded our offer of support in their priorities. Our deep relationships with the impacted community groups and leaders in the region allowed us to then co-design our services to support community-led organisation to build back better,” Liz says.
Since then, ABV’s team of community development professionals and skilled business volunteers have channelled over $6m in diverse funding and in-kind support to further community-led initiatives across disaster-affected and prone communities along the Eastern Seaboard.
As ABV engaged with communities across regional Australia, a clear message came through. Facing industry transitions, youth migration, workforce shortages and growing isolation, people wanted more than disaster recovery — they wanted to build stronger, more self-sustaining futures.
Through a strengths-based, community-led approach, ABV is working alongside local leaders who are determined to shape their own futures — helping them turn challenges into opportunities.
In Braidwood, ABV supported the development of a Tourism Roadmap to revitalise local industries and strengthen visitor appeal. In Orbost, we worked alongside community members to design an organisation structure that gives locals a unified voice in shaping the future of their town — based on their own priorities and aspirations.
“Communities told us they didn’t just want to recover from disasters — they wanted to build stronger, fairer local economies and a deeper sense of connection,” Liz says. “That’s what resilience truly looks like.”
As programs continue to expand to Victoria and Queensland, with a view to partnerships across all States and Territories, ABV’s evolving focus connects disaster preparedness with long-term economic resilience and social cohesion — helping communities anticipate change, adapt to new realities and thrive together.
ABV remains committed to walking alongside communities, ensuring local knowledge drives local futures.
Earlier this month, local leaders, volunteers, and community groups came together at the Orbost Arts Centre for the second workshop in a series focused on strengthening connections and collaboration across the Orbost and District area.
The workshop, Building Orbost and District Together: Place-based Leadership & Governance, brought together 16 passionate locals to explore what kind of leadership and teamwork can best support the region’s future. Through hands-on activities and lively discussion, participants created a shared purpose statement and seven guiding principles to help shape how the community works together.
One of the key outcomes from the day was the formation of a new core working group. This team will meet regularly over the next six weeks to turn workshop ideas into real actions. ABV Volunteer, Bruce Levett, will be acting as “a critical friend” and governance support for the community as they work through the next steps. Their goal: to support community-led projects and strengthen connections between local groups and organisations.
Participants also identified several important roles that a future “umbrella” group or network could play, including:
These ideas will contribute to the development of a proposed Community Connector Network (final name to be confirmed) — a flexible, action-oriented model that values local knowledge, supports innovation, and strengthens collaboration. It is designed to increase visibility across existing community organisations, while also creating space for smaller interest-based groups to emerge and focus on initiatives that also deliver social, economic and environmental benefits for the region.
"The energy and ideas in the room were inspiring. Now we’re turning that momentum into action by focusing on communications – the foundation for stronger collaboration across Orbost."
— Natascha Wernick, Program Facilitator Community Development, Australian Business Volunteers.
“This is all about finding better ways of working together as a community for collective impact.” – Liz Mitchell, Chair Future of Orbost & District project Government Group.
The energy and commitment shown at the workshop highlight Orbost and District’s readiness to move from ideas to action. With a shared purpose, strong principles, and a growing network of local champions, the community is well on its way to creating a more connected and resilient future—one that celebrates local strengths and makes space for everyone to be part of the journey.
The initiative has been supported through a partnership between the members of the Governance Group of Future of Orbost & District project and Australian Business Volunteers.
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) are supporting these events as a part of the Resilient Regions program, funded by the Australian and Victorian governments.
The Future of Orbost & District (FoOD) project is a response to the impacts of the end of native timber harvesting in Victoria’s state forests, and the need to transition the local economy. The project is delivered by the Orbost and District Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which is overseen by a community-led governance group.
Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Joint Committee on Harmful Algal Blooms in South Australia, offering insight into how community-led disaster and economic resilience can play a central role in addressing the ongoing environmental and economic impacts of harmful algal blooms in the state.
Read ABV’s submission in full.
For more than 40 years, ABV has empowered communities across Australia, Asia, and the Pacific, to strengthen local economies, and build adaptive and sustainable communities. Drawing on our experience working alongside small businesses, First Nations leaders, and community groups, ABV’s submission highlights that community-led programs to strengthen resilient local economies today are essential to reducing the long-term effects of natural hazards like algal blooms tomorrow.
At the heart of our input is ABV’s Disaster and Economic Resilience Framework — an evidence-based approach that equips communities to lead their own preparedness, planning, and adaptation. Through facilitated cross-sector workshops, volunteer mentoring, and partnership brokering across corporate, government and philanthropic sectors, ABV unlocks the power of local knowledge, hyper-local solutions, and networks for sustainable impact.
Since the Black Summer bushfires, ABV has delivered over 175 community-led resilience projects across 16 disaster-affected local government areas, with tangible outcomes ranging from small business regeneration in Mallacoota and Orbost to tourism renewal in Braidwood and a co-designed cultural burning collaboration with Bateman’s Bay Local Aboriginal Land Council. These examples demonstrate how community-driven action builds local capacity to manage disruption, build critical networks, and preserve economic continuity.
In our submission, ABV urges the Committee to invest in community-led strategies that protect local industries—such as aquaculture, tourism, and small business economies. ABV recommends the committee consider:
As outlined in the Colvin Review (2024) and Glasser Review (2023), investment in prevention and resilience yields strong returns, with community-led models delivering a 13:1 economic benefit. These approaches not only reduce disaster impacts but also support mental health, housing stability, and social cohesion in affected regions.
At ABV, we’re committed to walking alongside communities—before, during, and after crises—to ensure they have the skills, relationships, and pathways to recover and thrive.
For more information about ABV’s submission or to partner in building resilient local economies, contact us.
