Our approach to disaster preparedness, response and recovery is adaptive and iterative, in recognition of the diversity of needs of communities and cultures.

  • We value the role of culture and the arts in disaster management
  • We value community-centred engagement
  • We value the support of local capacity
  • We value collaboration, and
  • We value acknowledgement of appropriate timeframes for preparedness and recovery response

First Peoples First

Recognising the right for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
to have a voice within the journey of healing through a creative recovery model, we strive to listen, connect and advocate for a First Nations perspective to be embedded throughout the arts and disaster management sectors. 

We are committed to working with First Peoples to foster greater care for Country and advocate for the prioritising of First Peoples’ wisdom and protocols.

Creative Recovery Network is committed to the following principles:

  • Understanding of and adherence to the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples;
  • Knowing place and respecting and supporting the distinctive needs of communities;
  • Engaging in deep listening, making space and making time to truly connect with Elders and communities at large, respectful of others’ time and energies;
  • Embracing oral testimonies and storytelling as means to sharing and celebrating  individual and collective wisdom, beliefs and values and heal through connectedness and understanding;
  • Pursuing true participation and collaboration at large as the only path to shared and sustainable outcomes.

Community Centered

We work with communities to create locally owned visions and goals, centring local voices, building on local strengths and collaborating across sectors. This relational focus is intentional and adaptable, and works to achieve systemic change focused on self-determination and resilience building.

We Support 

We support the following statements and declarations as founding principles of our work:

Uluru Statement from the Heart

United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Universal Declaration of Human Rights Declaration of human rights – For indigenous peoples

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

Women’s International Network on Disaster Risk Reduction

Culture Declares Emergency

Creative Responders Podcast

A podcast about how creativity and the arts can support and strengthen communities as they prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
Listen to DOCUMENTARY seriesListen to in conversation series