2014 Media Releases
Deutsche Bank extends Victorian bushfire support with Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Program
Deutsche Bank has extended its ongoing support for bushfire-affected communities in Victoria with the launch of the Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Program (RRCLP).
The RRCLP is a 10-month training program that connects up to 24 participants with community, state and federal leaders to develop resilient, connected and thriving communities five years after the devastating bushfires.
Deutsche Bank’s $50,000 donation as Principal Partner of the RRCLP stems from its long-term approach to disaster relief and upholds the bank’s global commitment to social investments.
James McMurdo, Chief Executive Officer Deutsche Bank in Australia and New Zealand, said: “The launch of this program is the culmination of several years of work in finding effective ways to address the devastating bushfires. Our experience has been that some of the most valuable contributions are made years after a disaster by helping emerging leaders to develop new skills as they rebuild their communities for the long term.”
The program covers an area of 10,128 sq kilometres, including the municipalities of Mitchell, Murrindindi, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and Yarra Ranges. Participants will learn best-practice examples of community capacity and resilience building, as well as sharing experience and insights with their peers around the region.
About the Rivers and Ranges Community Leadership Program (RRCLP)
The RRCLP is one of 10 members of the Victorian Regional Community Leadership Program.
It was formed in direct response to a 2011 Feasibility Study which found that a Community Leadership Program would contribute to building a strong foundation of regional leaders to build resilience in the face of adversity, such as the devastating 2009 Victorian bushfires.
RRCLP participants will form a graduate base among the community and make an important contribution to the future of the state and respond to crises by undertaking leadership roles with the right skills and networks to support them.
About Deutsche Bank’s response to the Victorian bushfires
Deutsche Bank has been working with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) since 2009 on developing a sustainable response to the Victorian bushfires.
Immediately after the bushfires in 2009, Deutsche Bank made a $125,000 donation the Victoria Bushfire Appeal and matched employees’ donations. In December later that year, Deutsche Bank collaborated with the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) to take interactive art therapy installation Good Vibrations to bushfire-affected schools in Gippsland.
Most recently, through its $50,000 donation and role as Principal Partner of the RRCLP, Deutsche Bank is making a long-term contribution to recovery in the region by developing community leadership for years to come.