Bushfire Resilience Program

Rural Fire Service RFS volunteer fire fighters backburning in the Southern Highlands
Habitat for Humanity Bushfire Resilience Program

Habitat for Humanity Australia volunteers have been helping the greater Blue Mountains and Southern Highlands recover from the 2019-20 Black Summer. Focusing on neighbours who need a hand with the heavy lifting, local community volunteers will help clear bushfire hazards from properties and shared spaces. Habitat will provide qualified supervisors and the tools to do the job safely and effectively. With an eye on streets and neighbourhoods most exposed to bushfire risk, from late 2021 to mid-2023 we’ll cover numerous locations in the Southern Highlands.

Habitat Bushfire Resilience(PDF, 3MB)

Ready for Next Time

Alongside our partner organisations, during 2022-23 Habitat will also help neighbourhoods get together, improve their skills and knowledge, and plan and prepare for bushfires for the long-term. We’ll offer community trainings, guidelines and other support, and empower some of the most vulnerable people to plan for their specific emergency needs.

Helping Households Prepare
  • Volunteer teams will help reduce fire risk at selected households by:
  • Cutting back excess vegetation
  • Clearing gutters
  • Trimming problem tree branches
  • Removing other flammable materials
  • Blocking ember entry points
  • Minor repairs and maintenance

Connecting Resilient Neighbourhoods

Habitat for Humanity and partners will also offer:

  • Support to community bushfire committees
  • Vegetation and bush clearance training days
  • Neighbourhood protection planning sessions
  • Emergency information and awareness systems

Need Support?

If you would like our support, or know someone else who might, please email: resilience@habitat.org.au.

Want to volunteer in the Wingecarribee?

If you would like to get involved with bushfire preparedness, visit www.habitat.org.au/resilience to learn more and sign up as a volunteer

Alternatively you can email Councils Community Recovery Officer communityrecovery@wsc.nsw.gov.au to get in touch with Habitat for Humanity in your area. 

This is a Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund project through the joint Commonwealth/State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.