CCR FAQs
1) What is the purpose of the Community Carers and Responders (CCRs)?
CCRs are here to help their community by creating an atmosphere of caring for each other and helping their community in light of future disasters and crises.
CCRs are a network of trained, committed individuals, who help their community prepare for, sustain themselves during, and/or recover from a disaster; in coordination with disaster agencies or without them if no help is coming.
CCRs help build the resilience of their community, but how this looks varies from one community to another. Some CCRs support their community in preparing for bushfires; others by creating social cohesion within their community; others by setting-up emergency communications within a neighbourhood; others by helping their community improve its food security. The role of the CCR varies depending on the community, including its risks and vulnerabilities, as well as the CCR’s own interests and availability.
2) What process is involved in becoming a Community Carer and Responder?
If you are interested in becoming a CCR, you will have to:
apply,
be selected,
attend the 3 days of training in community building and disaster resilience,
attend the first-aid training (unless you have attended one during the past 12 months),
attend the psychological first aid training (unless you have attended one during the past 12 months),
lead a project which builds the resilience of your community,
accept to become part of the CCR network and be introduced to disaster agencies and members of your community,
commit to being a CCR for a minimum of 18 months after completion of the CCR training,
be able to remain calm during a crisis and be able to support your community.
It is only upon completion of all the training that you will be considered for joining the CCR Network, and introduced as a Community Carer and Responder.
3) What will I get?
If you get selected, you will receive:
three days of training on community building and disaster resilience
one day of first aid training
half a day of psychological first-aid training
mentoring to successfully implement a project that builds the resilience of your own community
a CCR t-shirt
a CCR cap
a first-aid kit
You will probably also feel some joy from learning new things and being connected with a host of new people and institutions, and feel increased confidence that you are better prepared for future disasters and crises. We hope you’ll enjoy a sense of belonging to a network of like-minded individuals and experience the sense of satisfaction that comes with being able to help your community!
4) What do the 3 days of training include?
Day 1:
Bushfire and flood recovery sharing and learning
Disaster and Crisis phases and actions
Handling stress
Working with emergency services
Day 2:
Disaster risk assessment
The fundamentals of disaster preparation, with a focus on bushfires, floods and other disasters
The fundamentals of Conscious Communication
Food and Water Security
Day 3:
Energy Security
Emergency Communications
How to build a community in times of crisis, and in times of peace
Peer Coaching
5) How do I apply?
Please fill out this form. You will hear back from us as soon as possible.
6) What is the training commitment?
The training will take you a total of 4.5 days, split across 5 days over the year.
Once the training is complete, we seek individuals who can commit to being CCRs for the long term, but we ask for a minimum of 18 months from the completion of the training.
7) How much time will it take each week?
This will vary depending on how much time you wish to put in, but, in addition to attending the training, we expect the time commitment will be between 30 mins to 2h per week depending on your interest and availability. Ultimately, you will decide how much time you can and want to dedicate to it.
8) Will I have to respond to disasters? For instance, will I have to fight bushfires or save people from floods?
CCRs are not expected to fight bushfires, save people from floods or engage in any activity for which they are not trained or confident about. The primary focus of a CCR is more about helping their community or neighbourhood to avoid the dangers and strife of disasters.
CCRs do not replace emergency agencies, but, if possible, work with them by supporting them or passing information between them and their community. When a disaster strikes, CCRs aren’t expected to do more than what each CCR decides they can, and is safe for them to do. For some, it will be helping neighbours recover from the disaster. For others, it will be collecting and verifying information about how the disaster has impacted their neighbourhood and passing it on to the emergency agencies. For others, it will be to make some meals to distribute to those affected by the disaster, or, more simply, to identify and support others who can provide such meals. For others, it will be to use social media to inform their community, etc.
9) Is it free?
Yes, all of the training, the t-shirt, the cap, as well as the first-aid kit are provided to you for free.
10) Will I get paid?
No, CCRs are volunteers. This network is being set up by community members to support other community members. Given the multiplicity of disasters and crises we have faced these past few years, we think it’s really important we come together to build our collective resilience. We hope you agree!
11) When is the training happening?
The latest training dates will be provided once they are confirmed, but will be found here and on the application form.
*Please note participants are required to attend ALL 5 days of training to become a CCR.
* Participants can attend any of the locations based on the dates that fit them best.
Additionally, a First Aid training (8 hours) and a Psychological First Aid training (5 hours) are also scheduled in coordination with participants. These will be available to those who complete the CCR training.
The same training is delivered in each Shire. You are only required to attend the training dates that suit you best, in the Shire of your choice.
Additional training dates will be offered later in the year.
12) Where is the training happening?
The exact location of each training is provided to participants before each round of training and occurs in a community hall in your Shire or the neighbouring Shire, depending on availability.
13) How will people know I am a CCR?
Upon completion of the training, each CCR receives a t-shirt and cap with CCR logos, as well as a well-kitted first aid kit. CCRs are then introduced to their local council, disaster agencies, and community organisations, and their contact details are provided to them. CCRs are also regularly promoted in local media and social media so that they are recognised (and celebrated!) by their own community.
14) What if I have to move out of the region where I live?
No one can predict the future, but if this is something you know now, please reconsider your interest in applying.
15) Why are you initiating this Network?
We are locals who love our region and communities. We have seen the impacts of the floods, bushfires, the Covid crisis, housing crisis, and other hardships that have affected us all and we are also parents. So we simply wish to make sure we are better prepared for what’s coming and are adequately supporting one another amidst the challenges of current and past crises.
The 2020 Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements was very clear. It said “Australia’s disaster outlook is alarming”, and, “in significant emergencies and disasters, emergency management personnel do not, and never will, have the capability and capacity to solve the emergency threat for every individual at risk.” Clearly, it’s on us to ensure we are prepared for the next waves of disasters.
We have this vision of a network that brings together members of the community who understand the gravity of the crises we are facing, are trained, and are willing to act to support each other and their community.
16) Why would I do this?
It’s probably because you have an interest in supporting your community to build its cohesion and resilience, but hey, you tell us! It could be because you want to learn new skills, help your community, or want to connect with others in your area, or are concerned about future disasters and want to do something helpful about it. Or maybe you have other reasons? Only you know, but we’re glad you’re here!
17) How do CCRs compare with other resilience-building programs in our region?
The CCR network takes an unprecedentedly broad and grassroots approach to community resilience in the Northern Rivers.
Several disaster agencies already have community programs, such as FRNSW’s Community Fire Units, the SES Community Action Teams, or the Red Cross Community Resilience Teams (CRT). We support these in every way, and encourage anyone to join them. We also acknowledge and celebrate the incredible support provided by the SES, RFS, FRNSW and other agencies to community efforts, and seek to work in partnership with them.
The CCR network nonetheless adds to these in four ways:
it further connects members of the community, thus extending the reach of resilience beyond existing geographical networks;
it trains communities to develop their own capacities in case agencies cannot provide assistance;
our concept of resilience is not limited to disaster prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery, but includes housing, food, water, energy resilience, and community well-being;
given the gravity of the multiple crises we are going through (from climate change to COVID-19, and including biodiversity loss, housing crisis, and mental health crisis), we believe the best way to become resilient to future disasters and crises is to transform our society by being regenerative in the long term. We do so by contributing to the reorganisation of our food, water, housing, and energy systems. Hence our focus is on resilience and regeneration.
Altogether, we actively support and work with existing programs while also seeking to provide a more comprehensive approach to community resilience.
18) Are the CCRs affiliated with any party, religious group, or else?
No, we are independent. We have no affiliation with any ideological, political, economic, or religious groups. We aim to ensure that CCRs are inclusive and representative of the diversity of our region.
The CCR project has received funding from the Australian Government and the New South Wales Government via the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund, the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, as well as Healthy North Coast and Country To Coast Queensland, but is designed and implemented independently by us.
If you have any additional questions that you would like us to add to this list, please send us an email at ccr@planc.org.au. Thank you!