The Community Development and Engagement Initiative (CDEI)

The Local Government Authority of Queensland (LGAQ) is administering funding on behalf of Department of Communities for a Community Development Officer for flood relief (and recovery) services based in the Toowoomba Regional Council.

The main aim of Community Development and Engagement Initiative (CDEI) is to support the Queensland community recovery process by facilitating and supporting community-led recovery initiatives, building on the strengths and capacities of the affected community.

The CDEI aims to provide a best-practice and comprehensive response to support communities recovering from the recent disasters and minimise longer-term costs to the State.

It will contribute to the effective planning for the long-term sustainability of local communities and build capacity in preparedness for and resilience to recover from future disaster events.

The Queensland Department of Communities has contracted the LGAQ to manage the implementation of the Community Development Engagement Initiative across the seventeen priority Local Government Areas. Funding available under CDEI is intended to facilitate the capacity building of individuals and communities to lead and manage their own recovery and reconstruction effort based on what is important to them.

The Community Development Officer position has been created to help the community work out its own recovery needs and implement projects, activities and events which contribute to the community's recovery, resilience and future disaster preparedness.

The Community Development Officer will build on the strengths and capacities of the community.

They will work with a range of community and organisational stakeholders to achieve broad community participation in the Queensland recovery process.

The overarching aim of these roles is to enable a strong and self-reliant community by building community ownership and supporting the achievement of community driven initiatives.

Elizabeth Jones commenced on 1st August and will service the Toowoomba Regional Council area. She will do this in partnership with existing Council community liaison officers (e.g. Bronwyn Holland in Goombungee, David Totenhofer in Oakey and Ann D'Arcy in Pittsworth), as well as other Council staff.

One of her main roles will be to coordinate service providers and local organisers involved in flood relief and recovery efforts.

In the region this includes external agencies like GP Connections, Red Cross, Department of Communities, Queensland Health, Centacare, Rotary, Centacare, St Vincent DePaul, Salvation Army and Lifeline; and local community groups such as Chamber of Commerce and churches.

Council is responsible for identifying and organising priority issues into a flood recovery community action plan.

It is hoped that any flood relief and recovery actions undertaken by both local and external agencies (e.g. Council, GP Connections ) are incorporated in and guided by this action plan.

Another key role for Elizabeth is to regularly collect information and feedback from community members, organisers, businesses and service providers about human and social recovery efforts, outcomes, gaps, priorities and opportunities.

This information will be fed directly into the Council's Flood Recovery Committee, headed by the Chief Executive Officer of Toowoomba Regional Council, and also informs reports to the two funding bodies.

"My focus is on the worst-hit areas across the region," she said.

"I am working with the community to develop locally-based programs and activities that help people and community organizations recover from the January floods.

"I work with community groups to make sure that they get the most out of Council facilities and programs, and help them get in touch with other service agencies that might be able to help them.

"I am currently undertaking community and agency consultations across the region," she said.

As a secondary purpose for the position as well as receiving funds for a CDO, Council received funds from the NDRRA to support the identification and implementation of a number of human and social recovery (prioritised) projects and/or actions over the next two years.

The CDO will be responsible for the allocation of flexible funding to implement projects that are linked to priorities identified in Local Plans; deliver a community benefit and support the human and social wellbeing of community members; facilitate the capacity building of individual and communities to lead and manage their own recovery and reconstruction effort based on what is important to them; and contribute to disaster preparedness for potential future disasters.

Applications are invited for the Flexible Funding Program (see related documents at the bottom of the page) which provides $10,000 maximum application to groups organisations and individuals who require assistance with recovery or preparedness programs and projects for further information contact Elizabeth Jones on 46886455 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it