Social Futures' Recovery Connect and Resilient Kids programs were category winners, along with an image of the Strong Minds in the Early Years program which took out the people's choice photography award. The Resilient Australia Awards celebrate initiatives that build community resilience, recognising the outstanding efforts of organisations, communities, and individuals in responding to and recovering from disaster events.
At the state Resilient Australia Awards in NSW Parliament House, Social Futures claimed top honours in three categories.
The awards celebrate initiatives that build community resilience, recognising the outstanding efforts of organisations, communities, and individuals in responding to and recovering from disaster events.
Social Futures CEO Tony Davies said the recognition reflects the organisation’s disaster recovery programs, and importantly, the tireless collaboration of many local agencies, schools, volunteers, and community members across the Northern Rivers.
“Resilience isn’t built alone. These awards honour the partnerships and spirit of cooperation that have helped lift our communities up and restore hope after devastating natural disasters,” Mr Davies said.
Social Futures’ Recovery Connect program took out the Community category, acknowledged as a pioneering model of disaster recovery that empowers people and strengthens whole communities.
The Recovery Connect Program is jointly funded through NSW State and Federal Government Disaster Recovery Funding. The model for disaster recovery merges innovation with impactful leadership to transform community resilience. A recent third funding extension for this program is testament to the ongoing need for this service in the community.
The organisation’s Resilient Kids program won the Mental Health and Wellbeing category, recognised for helping young people build the skills, resilience and confidence to navigate adversity and thrive even after major disruptions.
The Resilient Kids program is funded by Healthy North Coast who through genuine consultation with community, conceived an innovative response to meet the needs of young people post disaster: and so Resilient Kids was formed. The Australian Government, through a $10 million grant through the National Emergency Management Agency gave foundation and form to the vision, and Consortium Partners, The Family Centre and Human Nature Adventure Therapy, helped make the vision a reality.
“This award is for the children and young people of the Northern Rivers who shared their experiences, hopes and needs after the floods. Resilient Kids has been built with them, for them, and because of them,” said Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler.
“We are proud to see children and young people’s voices at the centre of disaster recovery and resilience planning for our region – and that Resilient Kids has been recognised as a leading model.”
A powerful image of Social Futures’ Strong Minds in the Early Years (SMEY) program won the Photography category. The image, captured by journalist Catherine Piltz, shows counsellor, Lisa Wilson, working with disaster affected children.
Strong Minds in the Early Years, initially supported by the NSW Government and now supported by the Waratah Foundation, uses creativity, play and deep empathy to support children to process trauma after disaster, and has seen incredible improvements in children’s mental health, wellbeing, happiness and stability.
Martelle Geurts, General Manager of Housing and Homelessness; Cathy Serventy, Program Manager of Recovery Connect; and Philip Lynch, Team Leader of Recovery Connect accepted the awards on behalf of Social Futures and the communities it serves.
Social Futures is deeply proud to share these state honours with the Northern Rivers region, where extraordinary community strength continues to guide the path from recovery to renewal.
