Non-government organisations (NGOs) in flood-affected communities will receive $4.5 million in grants this month as part of the $13.3 million NGO Flood Support Program.
Acting Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole said this funding supports groups that have been the backbone of the Northern Rivers community.
“When the floods hit and people lost their homes these organisations are the first places people turned to for support; providing food, clothing and places to live,” Mr Toole said.
“These organisations have spent their time helping others and now it’s our chance to help them to make sure they stay in our communities and continue to assist more people as the road to recovery continues.”
Minister for Families and Communities and Minister for Disability Services Natasha Maclaren-Jones said the grants will support the community-led recovery effort.
“Nobody knows these communities better than the staff and volunteers who work for local non-government organisations,” Mrs Maclaren-Jones said.
“They are there on the ground, working shoulder to shoulder with flood-impacted residents doing tremendous work and these grants will help them continue to benefit the entire community.”
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said 16 community-based groups will receive a share of $4.5 million.
“Each of these NGOs already has a long history of working in partnership with the NSW Government to deliver the best possible results for residents in need,” Ms Cooke said.
“We hope these grants will give them some respite as they continue working hard to provide family and youth support services, domestic violence and homelessness support services, as well as support for people with a disability, seniors and local Aboriginal communities.”
Northern Rivers Community Gateway CEO Jenny Beetson-Mortimer said the funding would bring huge relief after the Lismore floods hit them hard.
“We provide emergency relief, crisis support and homelessness services, so we have been inundated by people in need of help,” Ms Jenny Beetson-Mortimer said.
“We deeply appreciate this acknowledgement of our role in the community and the important work we do.”
The grants have been allocated among the seven highly impacted local government areas of Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed.
The NGOs receiving the funding in the first group of grants include:
- Byron Youth Service;
- CASPA Services Ltd;
- Challenge Community Services;
- Kyogle Together Incorporated;
- Life Without Barriers;
- MacKillop Out of ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Care Service Ngunya Jarjum Aboriginal Child and Family Network;
- Mid Richmond Neighbourhood Centre Inc;
- Mullumbimby & District Neighbourhood Centre Inc;
- Murwillumbah Community Centre Inc;
- New School of Arts Neighbourhood House;
- Nimbin Neighbourhood & Information Centre Inc;
- Northern Rivers Community Gateway IncorporatedPottsville Beach Neighbourhood Centre;
- Social Futures Ltd;
- Third Sector Australia Ltd;
- United Protestant Association of NSW; and
- Wesley Community Services Limited.
