ICOPE Mission Statement

Our mission at Iluka Community Organisation Planning for Emergencies (ICOPE) Inc is to empower and educate our community to proactively prepare for and effectively respond to emergencies, while fostering a strong sense of connectedness and resilience. We strive to create a safer and more prepared community through collaborative efforts and innovative solutions.

What is Community Resilience?

Community resilience refers to a community's ability to absorb disturbances and adapt, enabling it to thrive and grow. Resilient communities are more capable of self-support during a crisis and recover swiftly afterwards.

Building community resilience is crucial for minimising the impact of disasters and facilitating a prompt and effective response. There is no fixed method for developing community resilience, but it is essential to continuously strengthen it, not just during crises.

Community resilience entails establishing sustainable connections among individuals within the community. For instance, do you have acquaintances among your neighbours? Are you actively engaged in your local community? Do you possess the knowledge to act before, during, and after a natural disaster?

When disaster knocks on our doors, it's community connectedness that welcomes it with a defiant smile.

Imagine this: A connected community where neighbours know each other's names, and are not just faces passing by, but where a helping hand is always within reach. It’s this spirit of connectedness that makes communities bounce back stronger after disasters strike.

In times of crisis, it is the neighbour who knocks on your door, offering a meal and a reassuring smile, that makes all the difference. It is the laughter amidst the tears, that brings solace and reminds us that we are not alone. But the power of community connectedness extends far beyond the immediate aftermath. It sets the stage for long-term recovery and transformation. By working together, connected communities develop innovative solutions, pool their understanding and resources. They become resilient, inspiring others in the community and attracting the support needed to rebuild, recover and emerge even stronger than before.

This is how connected communities refuse to let disaster steal their happiness:

• When the floods hit the NSW Northern Rivers in 2022, it was the incredible community connectedness that saved lives. Neighbours rescued neighbours, boats turned into life rafts, and while a darkness invaded these towns there was laughter amongst the sorrow, reminding us that we're not alone in the face of adversity.
• When the 2011 earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand, the community's spirit soared as people opened their homes, setting up barbecues in their backyards, and organising potluck dinners to ensure that no one went hungry.
  
• In New Orleans, after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the sound of jazz filled the streets again. Communities paraded, danced, and celebrated their resilience during the iconic Mardi Gras festival.

Community connectedness can help communities revive and rejuvenate because it ignites hope, brings people together, and reminds us of our shared humanity.

Together let’s make Iluka a connected and resilient community.