Remember those two award nominations we shared in our last newsletter? Well, we have some lovely news to report!

Plan C received Highly Commended in the Outstanding Community Organisation category at the Northern Rivers Business Awards, while our Surviving Disasters youth program was recognised as a finalist in the NSW Resilient Australia Awards.

Recently, St Vincent de Paul shared how they'd adapted our Take a Step activity for their Good Works Summit, attended by more than 500 members and volunteers.

More than 130 people participated in their Human Side of Disaster workshop, using the activity to explore how people's circumstances and experiences can affect their ability to prepare for and recover from disasters.

We'd like to shine a light on FLOODLAND, the documentary exploring the human experience of the 2022 Lismore floods, and the team and communities who have helped bring these important stories to audiences across Australia.

The recently released FLOODLAND Impact Report highlights the reach of the film and the conversations it has inspired about recovery, collective care, First Nations knowledge and community-led approaches to climate adaptation.

Our Managing Director, Sam Refshauge, recently attended the Climate Adaptation Conference in Newcastle, where he shared learnings from Plan C's Community Carers and Responders (CCR) program alongside Kate Van Saane from Healthy North Coast, which has supported the program over the past 18 months.

The conference brought together people working across climate science, policy, research and community practice. One message came through clearly: we have plenty of strategies and plans. Now we need to put them into action.

In October, Plan C partnered with the Hunter Community Alliance and the Ned Foundation for a day of learning, reflection and practical planning.

Facilitated by Plan C founder Dr Jean Renouf, the workshop brought together people from across the Hunter region to explore the challenges of a changing climate and what they could do locally to prepare.

With a strong El Niño underway and summer approaching, many people are understandably wondering what the coming months might bring.

While El Niño often increases the likelihood of hotter, drier conditions in parts of Australia, it doesn't determine our weather. Floods, storms and heavy rainfall can still occur, and other climate influences can change what we experience locally.

What happens when young people are given the knowledge, skills and confidence to respond to a disaster?

In September, our Surviving Disasters team spent four days with the Student Council at Wollumbin High School in Murwillumbah, exploring disaster preparedness, community resilience and the important role young people can play in supporting their communities.

After 18 months of training across the Northern Rivers, we’ve now completed this phase of our Community Carers and Responders (CCR) program, delivered with the generous support of Healthy North Coast.

Last week, Sam and Rena joined grassroots resilience groups from across the region for the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance Gathering at Ballina Beach Nature Resort.