Resilient Villages in the Blue Mountains

Communities in the Blue Mountains face recurring natural hazards and often struggle to sustain resilience programs once external funding ends. The Resilient Villages Pilot Project explored a community led alternative. Charles Sturt Associate Professor Valerie Ingham and Dr Lucia Wuersch worked alongside colleagues from the University of Sydney as research partners, over a three year action research process, funded by the Federal Government’s Preparing Australian Communities – Local Stream grant program.

The research partners collaborated closely with the Mountains Community Resource Network, which led the project and served as the community liaison team. Together the project teams supported local development workers and participating villages to design tailored Resilience Action Plans, building trust through engagement at community events.

The project strengthened trauma informed, community led disaster resilience, influencing emergency management reform and building trust among communities in the Blue Mountains. Councils, emergency planners, NGOs, and policymakers benefited through adaptable, replicable models for high risk communities, supporting safer and more sustainable communities.