Community-Led Recovery in Fitzroy Crossing

When record flooding devastated communities along the Fitzroy River in early 2023, the damage extended far beyond roads, buildings and infrastructure. Entire communities were cut off, families were displaced, and many Aboriginal organisations faced the enormous challenge of supporting recovery while dealing with the impacts themselves.

In the aftermath of the disaster, the Bibbulmun Fund worked alongside Fremantle Foundation and the Paul Ramsay Foundation to help ensure recovery efforts were guided by the people who knew their communities best.

Rather than imposing solutions from afar, the partnership adopted a community-led approach. Local leaders, Elders and organisations were consulted directly to identify priorities, understand emerging needs and determine where funding could have the greatest impact.

This process recognised a simple but powerful principle: communities are best placed to shape their own recovery.

Funding supported a range of Aboriginal-led organisations delivering practical assistance, employment pathways, community wellbeing initiatives, cultural reconnection and recovery activities throughout the Fitzroy River region. By backing local organisations already embedded within their communities, the support strengthened existing networks and helped build resilience for the future.

For the Bibbulmun Fund, the initiative reflected a longstanding commitment to Indigenous leadership, self-determination and community empowerment. The recovery effort demonstrated how philanthropy can achieve greater impact when it listens first, builds trust and follows the leadership of local communities.

While recovery continues, the project provides an important example of how community-led approaches can create more meaningful and lasting outcomes following disasters.

Read also: How the WA Relief & Recovery Fund is strengthening disaster recovery across Western Australia.

Photo courtesy of Bibbulmun Fund