A connected community is a healthy community. Be prepared during this severe weather season: know your neighbour.

Most of us remember the catastrophic floods of 2011. We remember fondly how the community bonded together to help. Neighbours who hadn’t previously met stood shoulder to shoulder to help with the clean-up; staying connected was the key to recovery.

The severe weather season has arrived again and as usual there are floods and cyclones predicted. South East Queensland has already experienced a violent hail storm, which the Insurance Council has described as a 'catastrophic weather event'. The threat of drought in regional Queensland is ever present and the bushfire threat is higher and earlier than usual. These potentially devastating and life changing events put enormous financial and emotional pressure on many families and individuals across the state.

Immediately following a disaster, the Lifeline Community Recovery program – provided by UnitingCare Community - responds with on-the-ground Psychological First Aid to those directly affected.

Our Community Recovery Officers, many who are volunteers, reduce the stress and trauma a natural disaster can cause for individuals, families and communities by being there as soon as the disaster hits. We recognise issues caused by disasters can last for years and we aim to be there for the long haul.  

Your support will help UnitingCare Community  to work with communities to be resilient, respond immediately to severe weather events and be there when the winds die down or the storm has ended to help communities to recover and rebuild.

• A gift of $60 could cover a volunteer’s fuel reimbursement 
• A gift of $250 could cover the average costs of providing ongoing face-to-face financial counselling for someone in financial distress following an event.
• A gift of $600 could fund Lifeline Crisis Support Workplace Training for one volunteer (the minimum required for Community Recovery Support volunteers).
• A gift of $1200 would pay for one day of professional training for 25 volunteers