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Financial assistance from the Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) for residents affected by the destructive summer storms is not only helping to rebuild communities, it’s making them stronger.
The Reconnection for Resilience Community Grants Program provided 15 community grants of up to $5000 for local not-for-profit organisations, healthcare organisations, sporting clubs and primary care providers in the storm and flood hit areas.
“While the property rebuilds continue, so are the psychological health recoveries of those residents directly affected by the storms,” GCPHN CEO Matt Carrodus said.
“Through programs that foster on-going resilience, we are helping to empower people with the resources and support necessary to complete their recovery journeys,” he said.
Mr Carrodus said funded activities included programs aimed at improving mental health and wellbeing through support embedded in addressing social isolation, sport and exercise classes, art therapy, skills development initiatives, community BBQs and more.
Here we highlight four amazing organisations that are cleverly using their grants funding to build better local communities:
Men’s Social – The Knoll Studio, Tamborine Mountain
Tamborine Mountain was arguably hardest hit by the Christmas night storm that came out of nowhere.
We all saw the confronting images of houses unroofed, powerlines and trees down and of locals toiling alongside emergency services to restore some sort of order to their suddenly shattered lives.
It’s a proud mountain community and, as the bricks and mortar rebuild continues, it’s also one still coming to grips with its collective mental health recovery.
Cue the Men’s Social at The Knoll Studio at North Tamborine which was established with recovery grant funds to bring the men of the mountain together to heal.
Founder, local muso Ryan Gittoes, said there was plenty of incentive to make it happen.
“After the disaster, the mental health of a lot of local men was affected, which highlighted the undeniable importance of blokes who have shared an experience like this getting together socially,” Ryan said.
“I knew of a couple of guys that had sadly ended their own lives and that was the catalyst for me to say: ‘OK we need to do something’.
“The idea was if we can create connections through social gatherings and support men who might be struggling, there would be immense power in that.
“And that’s exactly what we found by providing a supportive space for men to openly share their experiences and challenges without judgement,” he said.
Ryan said meeting in a healthy environment is the key.
“We serve non-alcoholic beers knowing that the very act of drinking is such a part of our culture, but alcohol can create so many other problems.
“That’s why we’ve teamed with Sobar, the indigenous zero alcohol craft microbrewery at Burleigh Heads, to achieve our vision of a social gathering where men can celebrate being men away from pubs and clubs,” he said.
Ryan said the social nights, held inside a funkily renovated disused electricity substation at North Tamborine, can on any night can be about music, open mic standup comedy, food, ping pong, darts, chess and more.
“Our socials can be whatever they want to be and we’re getting about 50 men along each time, young, old and of all professions, persuasions, abilities and interests.
“There’s a real simplicity in the support structure that we’ve created, but there is so much power in it; it’s for a reason and that reason is recovery,” he said.
The Men’s Socials are held every second Tuesday, and the details can be found here:
The Knoll Studio – Home of the Arts and Creative Projects
Bags on the Go – Studio Village Community Centre, Oxenford
When the Christmas night storm hit Oxenford, the Community Development Manager of the Studio Village Community Centre Jennifer Schofield knew her holiday was over and there was hard work to be done.
“We were badly hit, and I knew straight away an emergency community recovery was about to start because we’ve been here before with floods and fire and all manner of natural disasters,” she said.
That recovery meant the distribution of emergency food and water supplies and toiletries and other essentials for people driven from their homes or those staying put to comprehend what had just happened amid prolonged power outages.
But Jennifer said next time it will be different.
“One of the things we realised is that we were sending people away with their emergency supplies in boxes and we thought that was undignified,” she said.
“So, we created Bags on the Go, with everything packed in a sturdy reusable suitcase that people can wheel out of our centre with pride.
“The bags are the packed with donated toiletries and essential disaster recovery items like battery powered radios, weatherproof document holders, towels and face washers, washing powder, coins for laundromats, deodorants and other hygiene products.
“They open the suitcase to find most of the things that people would need if they were faced with an emergency accommodation situation,” she said.
The Studio Village Community Centre was established 30 years ago by the local community.
It’s one of 140 Neighbourhood and Community Centres (NCC’s) around Queensland responding to loneliness and social isolation.
On a day-to-day basis it provides a community garden, day activities, bowls, craft classes, new parent support and playgroups, and plenty more.
“Our clients are diverse and in the aftermath of the disaster we also welcomed everyone to explore our community wellbeing and mental health services,” Jennifer said.
“At times of need we’re always there to provide physical and emotional support and Bags on the Go is just another innovative and locally tailored example of how we put grants monies like these to the very best use,” she said.
Wellbeing Wednesdays – Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre
The formal definition of Wellbeing Wednesdays reads that they are an innovative weekly initiative designed to nurture social cohesion and enhance wellbeing within the Southern Gold Coast community.
But according to Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre Flood and natural disaster support lead Suzanne Favaloro they’re simply life changing.
“Off the back of the Christmas night storm, we discovered that people who had been through other crisis’s had a real fear of going back out into the community and getting on with their normal lives,” Suzanne said.
“So, we thought about how we could address the problem and make the Neighbourhood Centre a safe place for people to come and share their stories.
“The activities we present on Wellbeing Wednesdays are the perfect way to do that,” she said.
Suzanne said Centre staff undertook a bit of R&D to plot the way forward.
“We had a self-care and recovery event last month and from that we learned what might be useful to present as activities for people who have been under great stress and trauma.
“We found that people simply wanted to relax and gather their thoughts, so the activities we designed are all around providing that calming environment and mindset,” she said.
Wellbeing Wednesdays now provide holistic support through meditation, yoga, tai chi, gardening, Pilates, creative workshops, social BBQ catch ups and more.
And there are the cold-water dips.
“They inspire people to get in the water when it’s cold, even if they only dip their toes, to get them thinking about challenging themselves to do things they might not have otherwise had the confidence to do,” Suzanne said.
“Wellbeing Wednesdays have become a real thing and as soon as we put the flags and signs up out the front, people start smiling because they know Wednesday has arrived.
“There’s a distinct sense of normality coming back in the neighbourhood and more and more people are coming in connect on a deep level with each other.
“They are exchanging phone numbers and arranging to do things together away from the Centre, which is exactly what we hoped might happen.
“And we are dedicated to following their journeys right through,” she said.
Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre – Social, Education & Wellbeing Hub (palmbeachnc.org.au)
Fierce Females – Westfield Shopping Centre, Helensvale
Created by women for women, Fierce Females gives participants the skills and knowledge to live life without harm.
Women over the age of 15, many mothers and daughters, take part in a 10-week program to learn how to improve and maintain personal safety during and after stressful events.
It’s a unique program that fosters resilience and community connection by blending psychology, conflict resolution and mixed martial arts techniques.
And according to trainer Jade Hurley, the Women’s Wellbeing and Resilience Skill Building Workshops have been especially important in the aftermath of the Christmas storms.
“These workshops have provided a safe and supportive space for women to re-build their confidence, learn practical safety skills, and foster resilience in the face of adversity and stressful situations,” Jade said.
“By focusing on both physical and emotional well-being, the workshops have been instrumental in helping participants navigate the challenges, both physical and emotional, brought on by the storms.
“This has empowered them to move forward with newfound strength and a greater sense of community connection,” she said.
Here is a full list of the Reconnection for Resilience Community Grants Program recipients:
Cottonwood Learning Currumbin – Connecting families through nature
Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre – Wellbeing Wednesdays
Studio Village Community Centre – Bags on the Go
Fierce Females Helensvale – Personal safety program
Sheila’s Shack Nerang – Weaving workshops
Noledge House Oxenford – Emergency mental health action plan
Storm Birds Tamborine Mountain – Recovery and resilience programs for children
Orange Elephants Creative Minds Elanora – Autistic person responder packs
Tamborine Mountain Library – First Nations artist stories and songs
Knoll Studio Tamborine Mountain – Men’s socials
Varsity Lakes Community Centre – Strengthening mind and body programs
Tamborine Mountain Presbyterian Church – Installation of community centre generator
Walk and Talk for Wellness Paradise Point – One-on-one mental health services
Leadership Under the Stars – Community Christmas in July
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