Working together: Collaboration is crucial.
Photo by
Jay Bryce
Greater Shepparton Foundation builds partnerships and collaborations to connect the needs of the local community with essential resources and skills to tackle and disrupt the cycle of disadvantage. The Foundation Features series will help shine a light on those driving change through innovative initiatives, as well as highlight community organisations that align with the foundation’s purpose.
Local agencies directly supporting people impacted by the floods in October last year continue to provide assistance to those still not able to get back into their homes and that are adversely impacted by the floods. This, coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, has resulted in extreme hardship for many.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
In response, GSF has been working with frontline agencies to establish the ‘Flood Recovery Support Program’. This collective impact approach is designed to connect the needs of those in our community with the right support they need at any given time. This flood recovery support program is funded by a Rotary International Disaster Recovery Grant applied for by the Rotary Club of Shepparton South and supported by Goulburn Flood Recovery Service and GSF.
The Flood Recovery Support Program sees gift vouchers of various amounts provided to flood-impacted local people to relieve some of the financial pressure experienced, enabling them to make purchases of what they need, when they need it most.
With our community’s flood recovery still a focus for GSF, we had no hesitation in partnering with the Rotary Club of Shepparton South and the Goulburn Flood Recovery Service to bring together a collective impact response for households in need.
As a result of working closely with local agencies that are supporting our flood-affected residents, we know flood recovery is ongoing. Each week we uncover different areas of need that during the height of the emergency weren’t known.
GSF is committed to this long-term recovery effort and to listening to the needs of our local residents and responding. GSF’s ‘Community Flood Response Campaign’, established from the onset, has incredibly raised more than $300,000. To date much of these funds have been promptly distributed to support families and individuals; contribute to rebuilding projects, via grants programs and scholarships; provide in-language health information; support food and material aid; provide respite programs; subsidise sports club memberships; support programs that foster support and connection; and many more. We will continue to utilise remaining funds for their intended purpose to aid our community’s flood recovery as the need arises.
Flood-impacted local people that would like to access the Flood Recovery Support Gift Cards are encouraged to contact the Goulburn Flood Recovery Service on 5823 4700. Those requesting support will be assessed against a set of eligibility criteria.
