East Gippslanders are invited to attend a series of free, practical workshops aimed at helping residents better prepare their homes and families for bushfires, storms, floods, and other extreme weather events.
The Resilience Pilot Project - a partnership between Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) with the Resilient Building Council (RBC) - and supported by East Gippsland Shire Council, will deliver five free community workshops across East Gippsland in Buchan, Mallacoota, Omeo, Bruthen and Raymond Island.
Participants will be introduced to RBC's innovative Multi-Hazard Resilience Ratings system, a nationally recognised framework that assesses how resilient a home is to hazards such as bushfire, storm and flood. Using a free, easy-to-use mobile app, attendees will be guided through an assessment of their home's vulnerability and receive a personalised resilience rating.
Along with their rating, participants will receive a tailored report outlining practical, cost-effective upgrades to improve the resilience of their home. These might include structural improvements, landscaping ideas, or simple maintenance tasks that can significantly increase protection during a natural disaster.
Importantly, the workshops are designed for everyone - whether you're living in an older home, planning a renovation, rebuilding after disaster, or designing a new property. Even small, affordable changes can make a big difference.
Attendees will also learn about potential financial and insurance benefits of undertaking resilience upgrades. In some cases, certified improvements could result in lower premiums, improved mortgage eligibility, or access to other forms of support.
Whether you live in town, in the bush, or along the coast, all East Gippsland residents are welcome. Come along, ask questions, and leave with a clear plan to make your home and family safer.
Workshop dates, locations, and registration details available at: https://gerf.org.au/rbc/
