Culture camps help communities prepare for natural disasters

INDIGENOUS and non-Indigenous members of the community are being invited to come together to learn how they can collaborate in preparing for future natural disasters.

Non-profit organisations Plan C and The Returning have partnered to host two five-day Culture Camps this August and October at Midginbil Eco Resort, which overlooks Nightcap National Park in the Tweed hinterland.

Plan C is a disaster resilience organisation founded by former aid worker and firefighter Jean Renouf, while The Returning Indigenous Corporation was founded by Bundjalung woman Ella Bancroft in 2018 as a women’s gathering aimed at bridging the accessibility gap in the retreats and wellness space.

Following the devastating Northern Rivers floods in 2022, The Returning expanded its reach to offer programs across the region, including family support services and health retreats.

The Culture Camps will blend practical disaster preparedness with cultural knowledge in an intergenerational, two-way learning environment.

Indigenous participants will have access to skills and training not always widely available, while non-Indigenous participants will be introduced to Indigenous cultural practices that can strengthen community resilience.

Participants will also gain emotional, social and practical tools to prepare for and manage crises – even when immediate help may not be available.

“True resilience isn’t just about survival,” Renouf said. “It’s about caring for each other, the land and our communities. Our philosophy is simple: I can only be safe if my neighbour is safe.

“These camps are an invitation to embrace a relationist ethos rather than a survivalist mindset. In doing so, we can strengthen our communities to face any challenge together.”

The camps are open to people of all backgrounds and abilities who are seeking to build skills, confidence and connection in the face of natural disasters.

For more information or to register, visit thereturning.com.au/culture-camp .