In this inspiring episode, ‘connection cultivator’ and co-founder of the grass-roots group, Resilient Uki, shares her passion for hyper-local community leadership.

Sitting down with our host, Claire Delahunty, Mel explores what she and her community have learned from the devastating NSW floods of 2022. She unpacks how an existing scaffold of connection helped Uki to cope with the trauma and isolation of the flood, and what the community has done since to make sure that it is well prepared for the next challenge.

Mel’s motto is “in service”, and she richly demonstrates why kindness and connection are much more than ideals – but rather the foundation on which leadership and resilience can grow.

This conversation helps us to understand why community self-reliance is a growing reality of living in Australia’s changing climate, and to see the strengths inherent in our rural towns.

Mel has a background in environmental science and climate advocacy, and is a graduate of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation’s Leading Australian Resilient Communities (LARC) Program. She has an article published in the Australian Journal of Emergency Management and is busy generating and collating community resilience building tools to share nationally.

Some highlights:

• Mel unpacks what ‘resilience’ means to her

• “Who gives a shit about the washing?” – Mel explains why there can be a ‘honeymoon period’ after natural disaster

• Why kindness and connection are the essential foundation for disaster preparedness

• Practical tips to help us all prepare for ‘next time’

• Plus the importance of giving everyone the space to have ideas and take the lead

Our host:

Claire Delahunty, is a writer and journalist who has worked with the ARLF for more than ten years, interviewing leaders having a positive impact on rural and regional Australia.

Resources:

ARLF podcast blog

ARLF website

Leading Australian Resilient Communities (LARC) program

Resilient Uki

Red Cross community-led resilience teams

Australian Journal of Emergency Management: Anarchy in the Uki! How a hybrid of structure and autonomy can exist in community self-organisation