COMMUNITY CONGRESS

Led by those with lived experience of climate disasters, Community Congress is a grassroots gathering that centres powerful stories, local knowledge, and community-led action. Hosted by DisasterWISE in collaboration with Resilient Lismore, the event brings together First Nations knowledge holders, local leaders, and grassroots organisers to focus on resilience, recovery, and renewal.

For too long, communities most impacted directly by the climate crisis have been excluded from conversations that shape their futures. Their voices have gone unheard, their knowledge undervalued, and their leadership sidelined - especially in disaster planning, response, and recovery. Community Congress is a response to this gap: a space created by and for communities to share grounded knowledge, be respected for lived experience, and to lead the way forward with care, solidarity, and strength.

Taking place across the unceded lands of so-called Australia, the Congress is committed to highlighting how disaster resilience is reimagined and enacted by communities. This is not a top-down conference - attendees will shape their own agenda, prioritising what matters most to them, their communities, and their futures.

Through peer-to-peer learning (and unlearning), cross-community dialogue, and collaborative problem-solving, the Congress will deepen understanding of diverse approaches to resilience and highlight the power of community-led practice. Together, we’ll honour what communities already know and do, and build new relationships and strategies to ensure we are at the centre of our own futures. 

Ticket Sales
All ticket sale funds will be distributed across all community groups contributing to the COMMUNITY CONGRESS event. 

ABOUT THE CO-HOSTS

DisasterWISE
DisasterWISE is a national learning network growing a movement of people who are building disaster resilience through self-determination and community-led action. By holding a space for people to connect, learn, and drive real change, DisasterWISE is an enabler for people to build stronger, just and thriving futures.
Resilient Lismore
Resilient Lismore Inc. is a registered charity and a grassroots, community based organisation that is dedicated to fostering disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience in Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

PROGRAM

Our Stories, Our Way (Friday Morning 8:30am - 12:30pm)
Our Stories, Our Way is a facilitated storytelling session designed to spotlight real-life experiences from communities across diverse regions. This session will showcase community-led practices in resilience, recovery, and renewal in the face of climate-induced disaster events across varying community contexts. By centering local voices and lived experiences, Our Stories, Our Way creates space for reflection, learning, and inspiration, highlighting the strength, innovation, and leadership that emerges from within communities during times of crisis and transformation.

Facilitators: Elly Bird, Melinda McIntuff and Jodie Willmer

Story Tellers: ABCD Inc, Resilient Kangaroo Valley, Glasshouse Mountains, Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA), East Gippsland CRC Link-up, Halls Gap Kitchen Cabinet and more.

Unconference Streams (Friday Afternoon 1pm - 4:30pm)

The Unconference part of the day is a dynamic and powerful space dedicated to showcasing the work of community groups and grassroots initiatives across the country. Through fast-paced lightning talks, you’ll get a snapshot of the vital roles these communities groups play in shaping just and resilient futures. After each Unconference streams (Peaceful Resistance, Caring for Country and Community-led Action) lightning talks, you’ll choose which community group or grassroots initiative sparks your curiosity to learn more - and be brought into a breakout room for a deeper conversation driven by your presenters, through a presentation, workshop or yarning circle.

Community Groups: Bushfire Survivors for Climate Action, Reclaim our Recovery / Lismore’s Peoples Assembly, Global Ecovillage Network Australia, Katungul, Richmond Riverkeepers, Southcoast Health and Sustainability, Resilient 4017, Maribyrnong Catchment Resilience Association Inc, Adopt a street - flood support and more.