Deputy Commissioner of the WA Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) Melissa Pexton shares the recovery story of Fitzroy Crossing, a remote community devastated by tropical cyclone Ellie in 2022 / 2023.

Located 400 kilometers east of Broome, this region faced unprecedented flooding that challenged traditional emergency management approaches.

In this episode, Melissa shares how the recovery process focussed on community empowerment, provided economic opportunities to local Aboriginal businesses and harnessed community leadership. Over 90 Aboriginal businesses were contracted to deliver recovery works, securing more than $90 million in contracts. This strategy not only rebuilt physical infrastructure but also created significant economic opportunities, with local workers trained and employed in reconstruction efforts.

A key lesson from the recovery effort was understanding the community context and allowing local leaders to guide the recovery process. Key insights from the discussion include the critical role of cultural navigation, the need for robust community discussions, and the importance of creating long-term sustainable recovery strategies.

Disaster recovery can be a transformative process that goes far beyond rebuilding infrastructure – join Andrew, Josh and Mel as they discuss the recovery efforts in the Kimberley.

Melissa Pexton: Empowering Communities Through Recovery