2022-10-24 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                             24 OCTOBER 2022


10   COMMUNITY DISASTER RESPONSE AND RECOVERY GRANT

Author           Community Development Manager, Alison Hamblin
                 Community Services Department

Index            ECM/18.15 Disaster Recovery/18.03 Community Resilience
Attachments      Nil


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
As part of the mental health support package for flood affected Australians announced on 9 March
2022, Noosa Council received $75,000 from the Public Health Network (PHN) to support
communities to recover and build resilience because of the severe weather and flooding event
across Southeast Queensland and New South Wales. PHN have been contracted to distribute the
funds on behalf of the Commonwealth Government.

With local governments best placed to respond to community need regarding disaster and flood
recovery, PHN approached Noosa Council to administer and deliver the Community Disaster
Response and Recovery Grant.

The purpose of this report is to provide background information and an overview of the Community
Disaster Response and Recovery Grant. The grant recommendations are being presented to
Council for its consideration and endorsement at the October round of meetings.

RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Community Development Manager to the General Committee
Meeting dated 24 October 2022 and approve Pomona and District Community House funding to
the value of $60,000 from the Disaster Response and Recovery grant to employ a part time social
worker until December 2023.

REPORT
Noosa Council in partnership with PHN sought applications from eligible organisations who were
able to employ a social worker to help people who are in crisis and need support as a result from
the recent disaster events. The maximum Community Disaster Response and Recovery grant was
$60,000.
The objectives of the Community Disaster Response and Recovery Program was to:
(a) allow communities the opportunity to choose their response to the loss, anxiety and distress
      experienced as a result of severe weather and flooding events;
(b) promote wellbeing and healing among community; and
(c) strengthen social connectedness and assist communities with the recovery process.
Applicants had to specify:
•     The community need to be addressed (what will your project achieve)
•     Intended reach of Grant activity (i.e. estimated number of people to be impacted by Grant
      activity)
•     Anticipated impact of proposed Grant activity
One application was received – Pomona and District Community House (PCH). As part of their
application, PCH has clearly identified the need for a Social Worker to support Pomona and
surrounding communities impacted by the recent flood events.



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