Eden and Surrounds Project Lab
Community priorities addressed: Information & education, Communication and Community Connectedness
The key takeaway from our two Resilient Eden Community Workshops was the need to continue to support participants and the wider community to bring community-led, priority project ideas and initiatives to life.
So the start of 2023 saw the project team begin creating practical ways to address the community’s three preparedness priorities - information & education, communication and community connectedness.
The team embarked on two key initiatives - the Eden and Surrounds Project Lab and the Prepared for Disaster radio show.
The key takeaway from our two Resilient Eden Community Workshops was the need to continue to support participants and the wider community to bring community-led, priority project ideas and initiatives to life.
So the start of 2023 saw the project team begin creating practical ways to address the community’s three preparedness priorities - information & education, communication and community connectedness.
The team embarked on two key initiatives - the Eden and Surrounds Project Lab and the Prepared for Disaster radio show.
The Project Lab began as a fortnightly evening session at the Eden Library designed to support projects to address the community's preparedness priorities.
It was conceived of as a space for the community to come together and be supported to workshop project ideas and develop the tools and strategies for building community projects. |
An early evening time slot was chosen each fortnight with a free dinner provided. The project team set about promoting the Lab and encouraging attendance through its usual community channels.
The team also invited all those community members on our mailing list who had shown an interest in this work through their attendance at one or more of our table talks, workshops and committee and working group meetings.
A common thread for each of the Labs was the 'check-in', designed to ensure that all participants had a chance to both share their thoughts in response to a calling question and to listen to others.
The overall Project Lab calling question was:
The team also invited all those community members on our mailing list who had shown an interest in this work through their attendance at one or more of our table talks, workshops and committee and working group meetings.
A common thread for each of the Labs was the 'check-in', designed to ensure that all participants had a chance to both share their thoughts in response to a calling question and to listen to others.
The overall Project Lab calling question was:
What is possible when we work together and share the load to be prepared and resilient to future disasters?
The project team designed the first few Labs with a focus on the themes that came out of the Resilient Eden workshops, observing which of these topics resonated most with participants.
People who attended the workshops drew other interested people to their topics, using the Open Space templates completed at the workshops to describe their project ideas.
The format evolved over time to introduce Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal (FRRR) project plan templates and other tools for supporting structured project design and planning.
The Project Lab session flow remained consistent during the first few months while participants became familiar with the format.
Over time the flow became less prescribed and more fit for purpose as themes and needs emerged and progress was made on projects.
Primary outcomes from the first Project Lab year
1. Emergency Preparedness Guide Information and Education/communication Two groups explored all manner of ways to improve community information and education about disaster preparedness including digital information screens, and signage about the location of safer places. By the end of 2023 the groups had merged and landed on a simple solution - a two page Emergency Preparedness Guide which included specific, local information about how disasters are managed, how and when evacuation centres are stood up and a map pinpointing the location of key locations and infrastructure. The guide was reviewed by local emergency management authorities and was printed and letterboxed throughout the region before Christmas 2023 and ahead of the busy holiday season. Soon after, Rocky Hall community members took the guide template and adapted it to suit the needs of their locality. You can read more about the guide in this About Regional article and download a copy of the guide by clicking on the first image. |
The group’s approach was to adapt the CRT model to be a soft entry point designed to bring neighbours together and create meaningful connections.
Prepare to Party emphasises the benefits of old-fashioned street parties as a way of creating support networks over time.
After running two or three trial ‘parties’ across Eden, the group decided to write a two-page guide to holding a street party.
The guide described the benefits of street parties and gave tips about organising one, including a template for an invitation to go in letterboxes.
You can find out more about the Prepare to Party project and download resources by clicking on the image above.
Prepare to Party emphasises the benefits of old-fashioned street parties as a way of creating support networks over time.
After running two or three trial ‘parties’ across Eden, the group decided to write a two-page guide to holding a street party.
The guide described the benefits of street parties and gave tips about organising one, including a template for an invitation to go in letterboxes.
You can find out more about the Prepare to Party project and download resources by clicking on the image above.
Secondary outcomes
- Valuable interaction and relationship building between the community and local authorities including the Rural Fire Service, Red Cross, SES, Disaster Relief Australia, Bega Valley Shire Council staff and councillors.
- Fellowship and improved networking and support.
Project Lab outreach
In ealy 2023 the project team took the Project Lab on the road to the Wonboyn and Kiah communities. The team employed the templates used at the Eden Project Lab to stimulate conversations designed to allows people to express community needs and to begin defining potential projects. Two sessions were held at Wonboyn and one at Kiah. The Project Lab in 2024 The Eden Project Lab continued into 2024 thanks to funding from FRRR and the Eden Community Access Centre. Feedback gathered from participants at the Lab's final 2023 session was used to evolve and improve the Lab and encourage greater community participation. |