Earlier this year, we welcomed applications for our Wellbeing and Resilience Grant program. After the loss and distress resulting from the 2022 floods, these grants are designed to support flood-affected communities in Western Sydney to rebuild a sense of community, build social connectedness, improve community health and wellbeing and support future emergency response preparedness. We’re pleased to announce that the successful grant recipients are North West Community Services, St John Paul II Catholic College and Hawkesbury River County Council for Landcare.
Each organisation will be using the grant funds to strengthen community networks and improve local wellbeing. St John Paul II Catholic College will be increasing the physical activity, social interactions, and life skills of students by replacing sporting equipment damaged in the floods, hosting peer sporting competitions and developing an animal care program. Hawkesbury River Country Council for Landcare are planning on running short sessions for people of all ages to engage in nature therapy activities, including guided bushwalks, nature craft sessions, wilderness therapy camps, and Landcare groups. This will help people reconnect to nature, to themselves, and to one another while also learning coping strategies, connecting to their community, and having access to support services. North West Community Services Inc will be expanding its current community activities focused on building resilience, increasing wellbeing and planning for disasters.
Spotlight: North West Community Services
North West Community Services (NWCS), previously known as Riverstone Neighbourhood Centre and Community Aid Service, has been running since 1977 with the mission of “Building a Stronger Community Together”. They aim to create a safe, harmonious, socially connected, and informed community and believe that “community is much more than belonging to something, it’s about doing something together that makes belonging matter”.
Over the last few years, Western Sydney has seen the impact of a global pandemic, along with four floods in 18 months, and increasing pressures due to the increasing cost of living. NWCS has been at the forefront of community response and has taken a leadership role to deliver flexible and appropriate support for people experiencing complex issues during crisis.
Now, with the additional grant funding, NWCS is expanding its disaster preparedness and community connection outreach through a series of community events, mental health and case management support and crisis education sessions. NWCS will also be setting up a mobile van to become part of an outreach community hub model.
Projects
- Wellbeing Project: My Liveable Neighbourhood – from community festivals to an outdoor library, support groups to eco-conscious initiatives, this program has something for everyone
- Community Education: Emergency preparedness
- Child and Adult Counselling Service – free and confidential service for children and young people. The team takes a coordinated, holistic, strengths-based approach that is respectful and supportive of clients and their families. Interventions include counselling, art therapy and sand tray therapy
- Case Work and Brokerage – targeted support for people impacted by disasters and needing further assistance to get back on their feet
- Free sessions: Zumba fitness, yoga, Dad’s Book Club, art, digital literacy, playgroup, mums and bubs
Earlier this year, North West Community Services ran a Spring Fair with their wellbeing funding, which hundreds of community members attended. North West Community Services’ CEO, Angela Van Dyke, shared, “The Spring Fair was an idea for the wellbeing project – how do we get people together without calling it something disaster-related. So, the team came up with the spring fair, and the disaster and service info was incorporated in a friendly way as part of a larger focus on social and community connection. Our experience with disaster responses has demonstrated that resilience is not built after a disaster but rather is the thing that’s built every day in neighbourhoods through social connection, knowing where you belong, that you have purpose and people you can trust. And the Spring Fair was so well received people are asking if we will do it every year”.
Connecting Community
If you are aware of community members who have been impacted by the floods or could benefit from the Wellbeing Project, you can reach out to NWCS or share their details.
Phone: 9627 3622
Email: reception@nwcs.org.au
Information correct as of 23 November 2023