Get Ready Community Award 2022

The Hub 2484 was formed by community members that came together to organise the influx of volunteers and donations in Murwillumbah following the devastating February-March floods. The initiative involved setting up a database to collect information on flood-affected residents and creating a physical ‘hub’ for hot meals, essential and donated items, and the referral of important services. 

The Hub also trained teams to go to impacted areas and undertake needs assessment survey with residents to ensure the community received the help it needed. This initiative became a trusted, community-led place for people to connect with local council, Government agencies, community services and above all – their community.

Following the February-March floods, the Shedding Community Workshop transformed their workshop into a place for volunteers to collect, assess, clean, repair and test flood damaged items. Valuable appliances such as fridges, washing machines and mowers were then delivered back into the community, saving them from becoming waste.

As an organisation focused on mental health, wellbeing and community connection, the workshop also offered a safe and trauma-informed environment for people to connect and contribute to the recovery process. This sense of purpose helped the community to feel seen, heard, valued and resilient during a time of crisis.

A group of local volunteers became an Incorporated Association following the February-March floods in the Northern Rivers, becoming a trusted social and community service provider for flood recovery.

Volunteers continuously put their community first by coordinating volunteers, providing access to mental health services, creating a community tool library, providing hot meals and other food to take home, and hosting social events. It also built and managed a community Facebook group, created a mothers’ group, installed a satellite dish, and hosted an access point for key services to run out of.