Watch back: Recovering Together as a Community

Thank you to everyone who came along to the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing's meeting: Recovering Together as a Community.

The event was a chance to pause, connect and support one another.

Community recovery experts Warren Davies, Michael Gordon and Michelle Roberts shared practical advice for managing mental and emotional wellbeing during recovery. This included techniques for managing stress and recovery fatigue, supporting children and carers through recovery and how to support others who may need an extra hand.

The meeting was recorded and is available to watch online.

Join the Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association

And thank you to everyone who came along to the Harcourt & District Community Recovery Association's meeting. It was a successful event with about 100 people attending in person and 40-50 online.

The association is ultimately about community voice, community ownership and ensuring Harcourt and district has the opportunity to shape and lead their own recovery journey. 

Membership is entirely free and available to any person who is 15 years of age or older and who supports the purposes of the association. Strong membership is key to success.

Employment opportunity: Community House Manager (paid)

Harcourt Valley Community House is looking for a Community House Manager.

They need an experienced senior manager to support their vision as the organisation strives to meet changing needs and long-term recovery for those in the local Harcourt community.

This position requires a fundamental understanding of the role of community organisations, proven organisational ability with experience leading and managing a community organisation, a command of community development principles and skills and an ability to advocate for the local community.

Environmental support for bushfire recovery

Connecting Country is grateful to be able to offer opportunities to support environmental recovery on private land in and around fire affected areas

Some of the support available includes:

• Property visits, ecological assessments and advice.
• Nest boxes.
• Contributions towards weed control.
• Minor erosion mitigation works.
• Reintroduction of woody habitat.
• Revegetation of local indigenous shrubs and trees.

Expressions of interest close on 13 July.

National Tree Day – A fun day out for the whole family!

Join Connecting Country and Harcourt valley Landcare Group for a day of tree planting, kids activities and a free lunch.

Together, you'll be planting a mix of grasses and shrubs along Barkers Creek to help create habitat and restore vegetation to the area.

When: Sunday 26 July, 10.00am
Where: Barkers Creek at Harcourt
Please bring: Drinking water and your favourite planting tools
Wear: Gardening/leather gloves, hat and wear sturdy footwear/clothing
 

Waste Levy Waiver ends
Tuesday 30 June

The Victorian Government's extension of the Waste Levy Waiver and Gate Fee Rebate Program ends at 4.00pm on Tuesday 30 June.

Fire-affected residents can dispose of materials that have been damaged at the Castlemaine and Maldon transfer stations free of charge.

Council transfer stations are unable to accept commercial quantities of material from fire-affected structures. We ask contractors to access an approved landfill for this purpose. For further information, please contact council on 03 5471 1700.

Look Over the Farm Gate – Community Grants

The Look Over the Farm Gate community grants program was established to help communities come together and support farmers and farming families under stress. 

This grants program empowers local organisations to deliver events and initiatives tailored to their unique needs.

The focus is on events or activities that support mental wellbeing and bring people together – whether through capacity-building mental health initiatives or other creative ideas – reflecting the diversity of the communities they serve.

Informative and supportive  podcasts

There are a number of podcasts and other resources that offer support for people affected by disasters.

• ABC's After the Disaster has practical tips and evidence-based advice.
   
• SBS' How to recover from bushfires talks through how to return home safely, find support and look after yourself.
   
• The Unbreakable Farmer's Beyond the Back Paddock shares wisdom from his life as a farmer through storytelling.

Bushfire recovery payments close Tuesday 30 June

A $1,000 payment is available through the Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation for households whose homes were significantly damaged or destroyed in the 2025-2026 summer bushfires.

To be eligible, the property must have been your main residence and deemed uninhabitable. No means test applies and you may still qualify if uninsured, receiving other support or unable to return home.

Renters and eligible home-based business owners can apply. Only one application per household is allowed.

Applications close on Tuesday 30 June.

Apply for a Business Recovery Grant

The Harcourt Progress Association (HPA) has opened applications for a business recovery grant.

This is a $1,500 grant to support those who lost the capacity to earn income.

To be eligible, the business must be your primary source of income, hold an ABN, and have suffered at least $10,000 in losses to tools of trade or premises. Hobby farmers and stock losses are excluded.

Applications can be made online at www.harcourtprogress.org.au and are assessed on a rolling basis. 

Applications close on Friday 31 July.