2022/2023 Community Grant Recipients, Donors & Northern Rivers Community Foundation Staff
2022/23 Recovery and Resilience Grant Recipients
Recovery and Resilience funding stream $305,366
The Recovery and Resilience Grants support flood impacted communities with disaster recovery initiatives, resilience and disaster mitigation projects, with grants of up to $25,000.
Distributed across the seven Local Government Areas of the Northern Rivers, Recovery and Resilience grant projects will address impact areas of disadvantage; housing and homelessness; recovery and resilience and the environment.
This funding stream was supported by the generosity of NRCF Donors and Partners of the NRCF Recovery and Resilience Sub Fund
Including: The James Frizelle Charitable Foundation, Portland House Foundation, The Dunnet Foundation , Tweed Council Mayoral Fund, Gaia Retreat & Spa, Santos Organics, Cape Byron Distillery, ArtHouse Gallery Sydney & Holt Renfrew Canada.
LOCAL CONNECTS TO GLOBAL
The United Nations has adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030. Each project in our 2022/23 Community Grants round is relevant to at least two of the goals as outlined below.
Agape Outreach Inc
OPTIMISING COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH FOR FLOOD VICTIMS
Case Managers are working with increased numbers of community experiencing trauma, domestic violence, suicidal, psychological, mental health, and wellbeing issues. Disaster recovery is ongoing. Four Wellness Programs covering Mind Connection, Building Resilience, Mental Fitness, Meditation, Healthy Habits, Staying on Track, followed by 1:1 coaching for participants to build on the recovery process.
Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue Inc
SOLAR POWER BATTERY
Australian Seabird & Turtle Rescue Inc. will install two Tesla Power Wall Solar Batteries. As a result of the floods, we had to change our water filtration system over to one that would use man made salt water instead of river water as the river water quality does not meet the DPIE Code of Practice. This mitigation required installation of 7 extra pumps for filtration which will work 24 hrs a day. The solar batteries will store sufficient clean energy to run the pumps at night and in case of a power blackout.
Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital
CRISIS EQUIPMENT
Purchase of crisis equipment to help rescue, assess, treat, and rehabilitate native wildlife when natural disasters occur.
Duck Creek Landcare - Richmond Landcare
RESTABLISHMENT OF RAINFOREST ACCESS TRACK TO DUCK CREEK DAMAGED BY FLOODING
To repair and future proof the damaged access track through the Big Scrub rainforest remnant to Duck Creek. This track is a 1.5km loop walking and all terrain track creating access to the rainforest and riparian area for the public, private landholders, and bush regenerators. The track is vital to preserve the fragile ecosystem and prevent erosion. The rain event in February and March 2022 has washed away the track in parts making it inaccessible and unsafe.
Dunoon Preschool Incorporated
ROOF REPAIRS OF DUNOON PRESCHOOL DAMAGED IN THE FEBRUARY 2022 FLOODS
Roof repairs to remove large patches of mould blooming on the ceiling in the children’s playroom and storage areas as a result of the flood rain during February and March 2022.
Gilchrist Foundation
FLOOD RELIEF ASSISTANCE FOR SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY
This project will provide four SCU students impacted by the 2022 floods with financial assistance and mentoring to support continuation of their studies. Flood events disproportionately impacted those in a community already struggling, and over 150 disadvantaged students have had their studies interrupted.
It Takes A Town 2484 - Thrive
IMAGINE 2484
Imagine 2484 is an initiative to articulate significant aspects of regenerative, safe and thriving futures for Murwillumbah and its villages. This funding is for a school based program based on building a shared vision & purpose as a means of community-wide recovery. We aim to strengthen mental health & emotional resilience.
Katia Project Inc
BYRON BAY HERB NURSERY WHEELCHAIR ACCESS AND NATIVE PLANT UPGRADE
An upgrade to the Byron Bay Herb Nursery plant stock area to expand our range of native plants and improve drainage and wheelchair access.
Lismore Preschool
PROVIDE SUITABLE OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACE
Provide essential shade at Lismore Preschool to address children's health and safety and learning environment opportunities. The preschool has relocated to the Lismore Public School site after the February/March 2022 floods. There is currently no shade protection on the north/western side of the playground, it being exposed to full sun and unusable, despite this area covering over 50% of accessible playground space. The preschool plans to install 3m x 8m shade sails to enable use of this site.
Main Arm Disaster Recovery Incorporated
CRITICAL COMMUNICATIONS PLAN FOR MAIN ARM AND UPPER MAIN ARM
This project will provide communication tools and backup power for immediate deployment in the valley. It will utilise MADR Inc managed communications tools (UHF/CB, EPIRB, MADR Website), and back-up power (Generator/Solar Power Packs), for immediate deployment (November 2022 – February 2023). It will provide a continuous power supply to the Kohinur Hall / Emergency Relief Centre through UHF/CB, EPIRB and solar power packs across the MADR region to assist in developing resilience and response to natural disasters. This project will collaborate with Wilsons Creek, Huonbrook, Wangananui Community Association.
Mental Health Support Group
RECOVERY ASSISTANCE WITH SMALL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND LINEN
People who have lost everything in the recent floods need to replace many, if not all their household items. These may include electrical equipment, linen, bedding, towels, lap-top computers for school students and so on. We propose to support our community through the provision of practical household items to assist the recovery process.
Positive Change For Marine Life
RIVER WARRIORS
A project to develop ground-breaking community-led restoration programs to protect and support carbon sinks, strengthen catchment resilience, and engage a diverse group of community stakeholders. We will design, coordinate, and deliver 1km2 of restored riparian habitat, to increase waterway resilience, strengthen ecosystem services and outline the importance of co-benefits to stakeholders.
Rotary Club Of Murwillumbah
MURWILLUMBAH HIGH SCHOOL TEEN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSE 2023
Run by the Safer Communities organisation of Federal the Teen Mental Health First Aid Course (TMHFAC) project would be offered to approximately 150 Year 10 in 2023. The course upskills the students to be able to identify and help other students who may be suffering with mental health issues and guide them to seek appropriate professional assistance.
Shedding Community Workshop
HANDS ON TOOLS COMMUNITY WELLBEING PROGRAM
This project will broaden the outreach of our existing, successful Resilience and Recovery Services by sharing our replicable model for inclusive wellbeing practices and providing wider access to our resources. ‘Shedding’ will teach like-minded organisations to empower others with safe and practical power-tool skills. The Training/Mentoring Program will enable organisations to share our practices (and networks) to cohesively rebuild our homes, communities and mental health.
Sprung Integrated Dance Theatre
AN ACCESSIBLE NEWS PILOT FLOOD RESPONSE AND RECOVERY THEME
Sprung!! ensemble artists will be supported by Sprung!! facilitators to research, develop and produce their own pilot episode of an accessible news program. Themed around flood response and recovery the program will focus on issues post 2022 flood events. The program will include 16 days of development, filming and editing, tech support for research, interviews, filming, and mentors.
The Channon Resilience Inc
DEVELOPMENT OF RESILIENT AND REGENERATIVE APPROACHES TO DISASTER
A community development project to collate flood knowledge and build a resilient emergency network by, collecting local flood knowledge including flood extents. A repository of stories, records and images will provide baseline data helpful in future extreme rain events. In addition, develop a Terania-Keerrong safety network so we can communicate any risk to those downstream and better manage emergencies. Build capacity to support decisions during floods and understand information on risks.
Whian Whian Memorial Hall Incorporated
BUILDING RESILIENCE THROUGH THE WHIAN WHIAN COMMUNITY EMERGENCY HUB
In response to increasing natural disaster events and the risks they pose to the Whian Whian Community (WWC), the development of the Whian Whian Community Emergency Hub (WWCEH), a community volunteer-led organisation, was initiated in March 2022 and formalised as a sub-committee of the Whian Whian Hall Committee in August 2022. Based at the Whian Whian Hall, the goal of the WWCEH is to develop better preparedness, localised response capacity and resilience to disaster events.
Wilsons Creek | Huonbrook | Wanganui Community Association
VALLEY EMERGENCY RADIO NETWORK
This project will improve the UHF/VHF radio connectivity and enhance the radio skills of Wilsons Creek, Huonbrook and Wanganui residents. We will undertake a radio network coverage assessment for a radio repeater, Install 1 radio repeater to improve connectivity of the valley’s radio network, purchase 12 handheld radios for use by the community in emergencies and visiting emergency services. The project will also host 3 community workshops on effective use of radios and establish a coordinated radio procedure. This project will collaborate with Main Arm Disaster Recovery Inc.