Arts bring recovery and healing to Port Douglas community after Cyclone Jasper

ART-DRIVEN RESILIENCE

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Community members gathered at Port Douglas Community Hall to explore creative recovery through the arts, fostering resilience and healing after Cyclone Jasper. Picture: Newsport, Bryan Littlely

Last Tuesday, community members gathered at the Port Douglas Community Hall to explore a new pathway for recovery and resilience - after the Cyclone Jasper floods - through the power of the arts.

The event centered around the concept of creative recovery—the idea of using creative engagement, activities, and programs to foster community resilience, healing, and connection after challenging times.

Supported by the Creative Recovery Network Torpical North, Regional Arts Development Fund, Queensland Government, and Douglas Shire Council, the Creative Recovery Training  aimed to strengthen local capacity across the Douglas Shire Council.

Scotia Monkivitch, Executive Officer of Creative Recovery Network, was invited to present Creative Recovery Training at Port Douglas this week.

Ms Monkivitch explained that arts and cultural programs have a unique capacity to build social connection – a vital tool that helps communities be prepared for disasters, and supports them to respond and recover better when they occur.

"The training provided and presented ways to work respectfully with communities to grow and connect through the disaster experience," she said.

"There were twenty participants who attended and who are planning to co-design and deliver creative recovery programs and activities that build strong connections and collaboration between organisations, creative practitioners, and the wider community."

Brody Andrews from Mossman Support Services Youth Centre highlighted the benefits of the Creative Recovery Training.

“I found it equipped us with essential tools for recovery and engagement with our communities as we prepared and recovery from impacts of ongoing disasters," Mr Andrews said.

"Through participating in the Creative Recovery Training and the Douglas Shire Council’s Creative Recovery program, I have a greater experience and understanding of the healing power of creative connectivity for us as individuals and for our community.

"Coming together in creative encounters empowers us not only to recover from traumatic events but also to discover new ways of working together for greater responsiveness in the future.”

Helen Ramoutsaki, a member of the Regional Arts Development Fund Committee, explained the broader impact of the Creative Recovery Network, a non-profit focused on embedding community-centered arts and culture in Australia’s disaster management systems.

“Participating in the Creative Recovery Training and Douglas Shire Council’s program has deepened my understanding of creative connectivity as a powerful force for healing," she said. "Creative encounters empower us to recover and build a more responsive community.”

Since the impact of Cyclone Jasper the Douglas Shire Council has been running a series of creative recovery programs across the region, including a project in partnership with Jabalbina, Wujal Wujal Shire and Cook Shire.

The Kuku Bakal Kayayanda ("Giving words to all the children") project is supporting children and young people in their recovery journey and aims to ensure the voice of young people is included in future disaster preparedness.

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