The Resilience Community of Practice (RCOP) is coordinated by Jesuit Social Services' Centre for Just Places and brings together metropolitan and rural organisations from across community services, community health and local government. It was established to share learnings and support strong partnerships and cross-collaboration between organisations across Victoria, to strengthen resilience efforts and reorient systems towards climate equity.

This next RCOP will focus on neighbourhood houses. In a community emergency, neighbourhood houses are often the first to step up to respond and they play an essential role in rebuilding communities. Importantly, neighbourhood houses also take a preventative approach, building the resilience of communities by addressing the underlying drivers of vulnerability.

We’ll be hearing from a range of speakers from across the state to share learnings about the role of neighbourhood houses in building resilience. Peer-learning topics include:

Flood Response and Recovery at Mooroopna Education and Activity Centre
Presenter: Jan Phillips, Manager, MEAC
Building resilience between emergencies in the Upper Murray Regional Neighbourhood House Network
Presenter: Trish Curtis, Network Coordinator, UMRNHN
Connecting community to build resilience at Myrtleford Neighbourhood Centre
Presenter: Sonya Bamford, Community Resilience Officer – Community Connector, MNC
A Local Approach to Climate Resilience in Melbourne’s West
Presenter: Maggie Mildenhall, Acting Network Coordinator, Network West
Darebin Neighbourhood House Network Climate Action & Resilience Planning
Presenter: Leanne Coughlin, Executive Officer, Alphington Community Centre

We’ll also be joined by Neighbourhood Houses Victoria CEO, Keir Paterson.

These will be informal, targeted (5-10 minute) updates including a brief overview of the project and reflection on key learnings, as well as an opportunity for a brief Q&A after each presentation.

If you have any questions please contact Jack Piper, Climate Justice Coordinator - Community Partnerships and Development at Jesuit Social Services’ Centre for Just Places at jack.piper@jss.org.au or 0429 268 904.