Welcome to the latest edition of Resilience Matters, where we center our attention on Community Recovery. Throughout recent trials, our community has demonstrated remarkable solidarity, with neighbours lending a hand and organisations providing support. Recovery is not an individual effort but a collective journey. Together, we can rebuild and revitalise our community stronger than before.

Over the past months, our Community Recovery Workers have been working diligently assisting those is distress. Whether it is helping people whose homes were damaged, supporting the displaced, or offering aid to those facing financial hardship, our team has been actively involved in all aspects of recovery. Central to their approach is their commitment to sourcing referrals and reaching out to those in need. Through numerous phone calls and face-to-face interactions, our team has been dedicated to ensuring that no one in our community feels alone during these challenging times. Moreover, beyond the tangible assistance provided, our team have been lending a compassionate ear to those who were hit the hardest. Sometimes, a listening presence can make all the difference, offering solace and comfort to those navigating through adversity.

If you or someone you know is still in need of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to our Community Recovery team for support.

Thank you to the Queensland Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts for funding the Community Recovery Program.

FREE Business Continuity and Emergency Planning Workshop - MONDAY!!

To support local businesses and not-for-profit organisations to become better prepared to deal with natural disasters, City of Gold Coast, in partnership with CPR Group, is pleased to offer a free Business Continuity and Emergency Planning Workshop.

During the workshop, CPR Group will present simple techniques you can implement immediately to ensure your organisation is in the best position possible next time disaster strikes. You will receive access to templates to simplify the process of preparing your own Business Continuity Plan.

Choose your preferred option: in person or online - bookings are essential!

Disaster Readiness Survey Winners

On April 30 we drew the winners for our Disaster Preparedness Survey. The prizes included a pre-packed emergency grab bag, three sets of gas cooker and solar phone charger packs, and a $100 Bunnings gift card! Thank you to everyone that participated and a huge congratulations to the following winners:

1st Prize - Jenna – Ready to Go Disaster Kit.

2nd Prize - Ken - $100. Bunnings Voucher + Cooler Bag.

3rd Prize - Stephanie – Portable Gasmate Butane Stove + Solar Charger.

4th Prize - Jennifer - Portable Gasmate Butane Stove + Solar Charger.

5th Prize - Maryann - Portable Gasmate Butane Stove + Solar Charger.

If you would like to schedule a one-on-one session with our team to assist you in creating a custom disaster preparedness plan tailored specifically to your needs and circumstances, please contact us on: 07 5593 7006 to book a session.

Each participant will receive a free USB and a waterproof document holder!

City of Gold Coast

Disaster and Emergency Dashboard

Sign up for free to the City of Gold Coast SMS Alerts via the Disaster and Emergency Dashboard. This will give you the most up to date information for weather warnings, power outages, road closures and other essential information. While the Gold Coast is renowned for its sunny weather, the city is still vulnerable to severe floods, storms, bushfires, cyclones and heat waves. The best defence in any natural disaster is to be prepared.

Red Cross Get Ready App

Birdie's Tree Resources

They have created Birdie’s Tree to help children and families going through natural disasters and disruptive events. They have booklets to help parents and carers look after themselves and a learning program for early childhood teachers. Join Birdie and Mr Frog as they learn about different natural disasters and find out how to cope and recover from stressful events. Birdie's Trees also has online games to keep your little ones occupied.

For more information or to purchase these fantastic resources please click the link.

Community Recovery Team Still in Action!

The Community Recovery team continue to work daily supporting members of our community get back on their feet after the Christmas Storms!

This is an uplifting example of a community member they were able to support:

A resident of the Gold Coast, who is a single parent raising 2 children sustained damage to their home and property whilst they were in hospital with one of their children. The children were traumatised by the effects of the storm and the parent has been trying to support them along with negotiating with insurers, cleaning out mouldy food and some contents that were also damaged. This has left no time for them to attend to the overgrown gardens and clean up debris from the storm. They are usually able to maintain this but after a few months, the overgrowth was too difficult to cut back to reduce fire load.

Our team used our referral pathways and requested support from Global Care, a faith-based charity, who have the equipment and vehicles to assist. Global Care came and assessed the work that was required, provided a scope of work and availability with the resident and completed the job within a few days.

The family were also supported by Carer’s Queensland with some challenges with their disability service provider and a referral was made to St Johns Crisis Centre to assist the family with food, clothing and medicinal support.

Please contact the Community Recovery team if you have any storm related enquiries.

Recipe Challenge is Still Open!

Queensland Disaster Grants

The Queensland Government has several grants available to assist individuals who have incurred uninsured damages to their property and essential household contents as a result of the 2023 Christmas storms. Please refer to the links provided below for detailed information regarding each grant opportunity. Alternately, please contact the community centre at 5593 7006 and speak to a member of our Community Recovery Team.

Essential Household Contents Grant

This grant provides a single payment to households without insurance or are unable to claim insurance for damages to essential household contents (for example, washing machine, dryer, dishwasher, bed and/or couch). Eligibility is subject to an income test and other criteria. If you wish to apply for this grant, it is advisable to take photos of the damaged items before disposal.

Essential Services Safety & Reconnection Scheme

Homeowners who incurred expenses hiring an electrician or plumber to repair post-Christmas storm damage may qualify for reimbursement. The income threshold for this grant has been temporarily raised, potentially expanding eligibility. Please be aware that additional criteria must also be met to receive this grant.

Structural Assistance Grant

Homeowners who have incurred significant structural damage to their uninsured houses may qualify for a grant to help cover the expenses of restoring structural integrity. Eligible damages may include collapsed roofs, wall damage, or foundation impairment. This grant is subject to an income assessment along with additional criteria.

Services Australia/Centrelink Grants

Following the Christmas day storms, the Australian Government activated grants which are accessible via the Services Australia portal on MyGov. If you believe you might qualify for any of these grants but lack the confidence in applying online via MyGov, you can contact the community centre on 07 5593 7006 to schedule a session and we will guide you through the application process for these grants. More information is below.