FLOOD IMPACT
Research, Respond and Recover: The ongoing impact of the 2022 floods on not-for-profits in the Northern Rivers
Two years on from the Northern Rivers Floods, we acknowledge what the people of this region have endured, and the heroism, strength, and resilience of our Northern Rivers communities. We are fortunate to have heard from those who have worked alongside residents and business owners from the worst impacted parts of the NSW Northern Rivers region. We have witnessed stories of recovery and heed the advice they have offered.
This report explores the findings of the Northern Rivers Community Foundation’s (NRCF) third annual Flood Impact Survey, which tracks the trajectory of recovery of the Northern Rivers grassroots and not-for-profit sector following the 2022 flooding disaster. The survey findings provide insights into the recovery journey and highlight the many and complex challenges they face in restoring pre-disaster levels of funding and service provision, as well as building their resilience for future disasters.
VITAL SIGNS 2023
We are proud to launch our 2023 Vital Signs Report which takes an honest pulse check on the Northern Rivers – how we are tracking with challenges, resilience and community vitality. This report is a rich deep dive, with the data telling a story that can’t be ignored, and one we hope will start important conversations and drive positive change here in the Northern Rivers.
Our thanks goes to the Vasudhara Fund whose generosity has made this important research accessible to the community.
Across the seven Local Government Areas of the Northern Rivers, this report highlights how we are tracking across the four indicators of:
- Education and Employment
- Housing and Homelessness
- Environment and Sustainability
- Healthy and Resilient Communities
What do we hope from this report?
We invite you to use this report to start conversations and engage more deeply in the important issues in your community. If you are moved by the narratives (both through words and data) captured in this report, we invite you to visit our Giving Pages and consider a donation to a cause you feel passionate about. Together we believe in evidence-based action to strengthen the Northern Rivers and its rich social fabric. You can view the source data for 2023 Vital Signs here.
Vital Signs Enquiries:
0499 862 886
impact@nrcf.org.au
SUPPORTING PARTNER
RESEARCH, RESPOND, RECOVER: A YEAR ON FROM DISASTER
Supported by The Paul Ramsay Foundation, this report, Research, Respond, Recover: A year on from disaster, takes a deep dive into the recovery progress and ongoing disaster impacts within the Northern Rivers not-for-profit and grassroots community sector. The report is the second in a four-year longitudinal study being carried out by NRCF, following the devastating flooding events of February and March 2022 in the Northern Rivers.
Over 12 months on from the 2022 disaster, many individuals and communities are still working on their recovery, feeling exhausted, struggling with trauma, and in need of support. Response by place-based charities has faced numerous challenges including a significant reduction in volunteer numbers and workforce, employees struggling with flood recovery, mental health pressures, and a funding squeeze. As this report reveals, not-for-profit organisations are struggling to meet increased demand on their services.
NRCF’s four-year research project helps unpack the issues and conditions impacting community and grassroots recovery from disaster. It builds an evidence-base for support of not-for-profit organisations and increases awareness of the need at local, state and national levels.
HOUSING AND HOMELESSNESS IN A FLOOD RECOVERY
Housing and homelessness have been key issues for the community organisations we support and the communities they serve.
Following the 2022 February and March floods, when these natural disasters displaced some 1,300 people across the region, NRCF commissioned community research to delve into the housing and homeless crisis from a whole-of-community perspective. The research aims to understand the issues post-flood context, changed conditions and urgency, and build shared visions, solutions, and basis for action.
Regional housing markets will be unable to survive widespread property losses, such as those that resulted from the 2022 flooding disaster. The research, co-designed by our Northern Rivers community, generated almost 100 insights and 80 solutions. This presents a key opportunity for cross-sector collaboration to collectively focus their expertise and resources on this complex issue.
We invite you to review the challenges and potential solutions outlined and consider where you or your organisation may have skills or capabilities to collaborate in progressing solutions.
FLOOD IMPACT
Research, Respond and Recover: NRCF’s response to the February and March 2022 Disaster
The February and March 2022 flooding events – when numerous rainfall and river height records were broken across the region – has changed the face of our community in many ways. It was immediately clear to NRCF, in the aftermath of the floods, that the impact would be widespread, significant, and long lasting. Our long-standing connection with community organisations across the region provided us with extensive insight into the impact on our diverse communities.
In the week following the second flood disaster, the NRCF engaged a team of volunteers in a research project, contacting community organisations across the region at a local level to understand the impact and the role the Foundation would be able to play in the immediate and ongoing response and recovery of the region. Our findings are outlined in the flood impact report.
We continue to work closely with organisations across the region, supporting the important work that they are doing in the recovery space. Our research into the ongoing recovery and needs of our community also continues, and we will share further findings as they emerge.
VITAL SIGNS
The Northern Rivers is a diverse region, home to over 300,000 people. There’s a lot to love, but we’ve been faced with many challenges too. This Vital Signs report is a snapshot of community vitality and resilience.
The report is a community check-up tool used by community foundations around the world to measure the vitality of a community and support action towards improving collective quality of life. It uses publicly available data and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life for community.
Vital Signs Northern Rivers NSW 2022 highlights the strengths, challenges and needs across the seven Local Government Areas in these key areas:
Housing & Homelessness
Education & Employment
Healthy & Resilient communities
Environment & Sustainability
These reports are designed to be conversations starters, to allow local communities to investigate deeper matters of significance to them.
Vital Signs Enquiries:
0499 862 886
impact@nrcf.org.au