Building Resilience Through Connection: Reflections from the Resilience Practitioner Training

Recently, I had the opportunity to take part in the Resilience Canopy’s Resilience Practitioner Training, organised by Geelong Sustainability. Over four sessions, I joined a room full of passionate people from across the Geelong region. We came from different backgrounds, community groups and professional roles, but we all shared a common drive to create stronger, more connected and more resilient communities. 

What struck me immediately was the energy in the rooms both online and in-person. Everyone brought their lived experience, ideas and hopes for what resilience could look like in our region. I found myself learning as much from the participants as I did from the knowledgeable and authentic facilitators. It was a reminder that resilience is something we build together. 

One of the most powerful ideas we explored was the “messy middle” of community-led work. Often, when communities face challenges, conversations move through what the training framed as the “groan zone”: that uncomfortable space where things feel unclear, complicated or even a little chaotic. Rather than seeing this as a problem, the training reframed it as an essential part of progress. It’s in the messy middle, where ideas are stretched, perspectives are tested and people work through discomfort together,  that real resilience begins to take shape. 

A consistent thread running through the training was just how central social connection is to resilience, including climate resilience. Whether communities are facing environmental change, social pressures or increasing isolation, connection acts as a buffer. Supportive relationships, trust and shared purpose strengthen our ability to adapt and respond. For me, this deeply resonated with the work we do at Friends for Good. Every day, we see how connection reduces loneliness and empowers communities to thrive, and this training reinforced that these same principles underpin broader resilience planning. 

I left the training feeling inspired and full of ideas about how to apply these learnings at Friends for Good. In particular, I’m excited to use the tools and frameworks in our community-driven approach to program design and implementation. The focus on shared leadership, collaboration and community voices aligns strongly with our values and with the future of our work. 

I’m also looking forward to staying connected with the Resilience Canopy community and continuing to learn from others who are passionate about strengthening the social fabric of our region. 

If you’re interested in the Resilience Canopy or want to know more about their work, you can explore their website to learn more about upcoming training and initiatives. 

Photo credit: Sharon from Studio Collins @studio_collins_photography