Events

The event began with a warm welcome and introduction from Jack Czauderna, setting the stage for the morning’s discussion. He highlighted the significance of our community collaboration and the need for collective efforts to tackle ongoing challenges.

Accessible Information and Communication

The first session focused on the accessibility of information and effective communication strategies. Participants discussed the various hurdles in accessing information, including:

• Sources of Information: Identifying reliable places to find accurate information.
• Digital Challenges: The digital divide that prevents some community members from accessing online information.
• Language Barriers: The lack of translations into local languages, which hampers understanding for non-native speakers.
• Trust Issues: Scepticism towards government information and the need for credible sources.
• Effective Communication: Strategies that have worked well and those that need improvement.

The consensus was clear: future communication efforts must be more inclusive, trustworthy, quick to respond, and tailored to meet the needs of diverse communities.

Safe Environments

The discussion then moved on to thinking about safe environments in different ways. Key points included:

• Staying at Home: The challenges of advising people to stay at home, especially in overcrowded living conditions and when work requirements cannot be ignored.
• Home Safety: Ensuring safety within the home, particularly in multi-generational households.
• Outdoor Safety: Measures to stay safe outside, including considerations of air quality and public health guidelines.

Participants emphasised the importance of advice that considers the realities of different living and employment situations.

Support Systems

• Isolation Supplies: Ensuring people had the necessary supplies to isolate effectively.
• Support Circles: The role of SCCT Support Circles in providing mutual aid.
• Healthcare Collaboration: How primary care and community organizations worked together to improve vaccine uptake.
• Gaps in Support: Identifying where support was missing or delayed.

This session underscored the need for robust, timely, and well-coordinated support mechanisms to aid those in need.

Community Mobilization

The final session of the event explored how communities mobilized in response to the pandemic. Key discussion points included:

• Collaboration: New and innovative ways communities worked together to address challenges.
• Institutional Partnerships: The ability of communities to collaborate with local institutions and systems.
• Advocacy for Change: Campaigning for changes within institutions and systems to better support communities in the future.

Participants highlighted successful examples of community-driven initiatives and the ongoing need for systemic changes to enhance community resilience.

Conclusion and Lunch

The event concluded with a call to action, encouraging participants to continue their efforts in fostering strong, supportive, and well-informed communities. Attendees then enjoyed a delicious lunch, kindly gifted to the event by ACT. This provided everyone with an opportunity to network and further discuss the topics covered during the event.