That's a wrap! Thank you for walking this journey together!
Dear Plan C supporters,
Given the catastrophic floods occurring in Queensland's Far North Coast, it's normal if you feel grief, sadness or other mixed emotions. We hope there is someone you can speak to about this, but please ask for help if you need it.
Yet, our own experience in the Northern Rivers is that despite the tragic nature of every disaster, each also has the seed for post-traumatic growth. These are unprecedented times and such events remind us even more of the need to come together. And coming together we have! As this year ends, it's a good time to recognize the incredible strength and resilience we are collectively growing within our community.
The last 2 years have been a whirlwind of activity and growth for us. Though our funding for our Northern Rivers Community Carers and Responders network, our monthly Facing-Up events, and our Food Security programs have come temporarily to an end, the impact we've made is just beginning.
Here's a snapshot of what we've achieved together since the 2022 floods:
We've rolled out 84 days of CCR training, 20 days of Psychological First Aid, and 14 days of First Aid, not to mention 10 extra workshops on everything from Art Therapy, Grant Writing to Resilient Landscaping.
We now have more than 270 trained CCRs in the network and many of them have undertaken a project of their own, which builds the resilience of their community. In fact, we've registered 98 such projects across the Northern Rivers and provided 61 mentoring sessions to support them.
We organised 9 Facing Up events in Brunswick Heads, Lismore and Murwillumbah, where every month we discussed how to live well through the current climate predicament. We're still editing the recordings of the latest Facing Ups, but we already invite you to listen to some here.
We conducted a scoping study about the resilience of our Northern Rivers food systems, and provided 10 evidence-based recommendations to improve food security in our region. Check these out here if you haven't done so yet.
Our efforts have taken place in 6 Northern Rivers Local Government Areas, namely Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed, directly impacting around 2400 people and indirectly benefiting another 9600 folks.
A recent evaluation of our CCR network found that the pilot program has had significant achievements, including improved community resilience, increased awareness of disaster preparedness, and the formation of strong community bonds. Tangible outcomes include the creation of risk reduction plans, the formation of neighbourhood resilience groups, the organisation of many community-building events and food security initiatives, the setting-up of emergency radio communications, and more. One of the greatest benefits of the CCR program has been enhancing networks and connecting community leaders across the Northern Rivers. The CCR network also enabled local solutions to disaster preparedness and recovery, established well-being initiatives, and addressed the needs of vulnerable groups in disaster situations.
Our heart is in the Northern Rivers, but communities across Australia have asked us to help them too. We're thrilled to have begun supporting communities in the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, and Sunshine Coast, sharing our blend of training and mentorship to spark enduring community projects.
We are now focused on developing our Young CCR program, which is all about empowering the next generation to learn new skills, build their own networks of support, and engage in community resilience in their own ways. We're pouring our hearts into nurturing young leaders who will shape a resilient future for all of us. If you can, please support us by making a tax-deductible donation!
Heartfelt thanks!
Your support has been our guiding light. Every step you've taken with us has helped shape our vision of a resilient, connected, regenerated community. We're so grateful for your energy, your passion, and your belief in what we do.
As we gear up for the holidays, we want to send you our warmest wishes. May this season be a time of rest, joy, and recharging for you and your loved ones. Here's to a new year filled with connection, and more amazing moments together.
Our strength lies in our community.
Thank you for being here,
Warmly,
The Plan C Team
P.S. Your generous support allows us to continue this work. If you are able, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Plan C.