Yasi - locals tell their stories 10 years on

Ten years after Yasi devastated the North Queensland coast, locals tell their stories of resilience and hope as part of a collaborative project aimed at assisting others experiencing similar adversity.

The ‘Yasi, a decade on…’ project, a collaboration between selectability and Queensland Health, aims to develop local storytelling capacity to help communities build resilience, connection and support.

selectability CEO Debra Burden said  that despite the passing of years, natural disasters can remain vivid for those with a lived experience and the project looked beyond the rebuild to put people at the centre of recovery.

“The communities across North Queensland have experienced more than their fair share of disasters and the impacts on mental wellbeing can be long lasting,” said Ms Burden.

“Storytelling is a powerful way of building resilience and connecting individuals and communities.

“We hope that by showcasing the experiences of locals we can support others going through similar situations and encourage them to tell their stories and seek the help they may need.”

‘Yasi, a decade on …’ focuses on the devastating impacts cyclone Yasi had on the lives of 18 locals across the Hinchinbrook and Cassowary Coast regions and their remarkable resilience throughout the recovery process. It also highlights the concept of community-led recovery.

Cyclone Yasi made landfall on the North Queensland coast in early 2011 and was one of Australia’s most devastating storms in history, causing over $3 billion damage, displacing thousands of people and emotionally testing a number of coastal communities.

To watch the videos visit the dedicated website https://www.ourstory-yasi.com