Collaborative response to NSW flood aid builds long-term resilience

25/07/2025, 1:30 PM
VICSES volunteers worked closely with Australian Red Cross volunteers and other local emergency service providers to aid flood-stricken New South Wales communities with targeted recovery information and well being support.

A new initiative partnering Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) volunteers with their Australian Red Cross counterparts during devastating floods earlier this year has aided community members in accessing vital psychological and practical support as they begin their recovery process.

The pilot, which took place while VICSES Community Liaison Officers (CLOs) were deployed and assisting communities in flood-stricken New South Wales in May, saw Australian Red Cross volunteers embedded with VICSES and other first responder crews for the first time, to provide a holistic, proactive approach to supporting communities through the emergency.

Review of a similar VICSES deployment in 2022 to NSW’s Northern Rivers, including Lismore, had identified opportunities to strengthen the way volunteers supported impacted residents, by providing additional compassionate support and advice on top of their operational response to ensure community members were heard and supported while in crisis.

Deployed to townships along the mid-north coast’s Manning River, VICSES Phillip Island Unit volunteer Bri Reid was part of an initial VICSES deployment of CLOs which found several remarkably resilient communities, having experienced significant flooding in the preceding years.

Tasked with providing relief and recovery materials to affected community members, Bri and her Australian Red Cross colleague Selina were alerted to a farm which had lost upwards of 100 head of cattle - including 25 calves - in the flooding emergency, and attended to provide vital practical and psychological support to the family.

At the scene, impact assessment and vital recovery information was provided through a concerted approach, with first responders assessing any damage to structures while Bri liaised with the farmer to ensure food and water could be sourced for the remaining stock.

Concurrently, Selina discussed the event with the family, outlining their likely experience over the ensuing weeks and utilising her psychological first aid proficiency to provide emotional support and direct family members to further care services.

A ferry service operating in support of the isolated township of Hinton allowed community members to access vital medical appointments and restock supplies.

In the nearby Hinton community, crews worked to support the operation of a ferry service between the isolated township and the town of Morpeth at least twice a day, ensuring locals could attend important medical appointments and shop for essentials when required.

In tandem with Australian Red Cross representatives, VICSES volunteers engaged in regular conversations with community members, uncovering valuable information about the township and ensuring those requiring welfare checks or who were experiencing social isolation were seen to by emergency responders.

One such family, whose home near the town’s bridge was isolated from both Morpeth and Hinton as water levels rose, were quickly seen to by the VICSES and Australian Red Cross contingent, who made contact from the bridge above before taking a pharmaceutical script to be filled in Morpeth on behalf of the family.

While some locals were isolated by the flooding emergency, VICSES volunteers were struck by the way the community prepared for the event, coming together in support of each other and exemplified by the fact there were no queues to use the ferry service on offer by first responders.

In total, more than 20 VICSES CLOs were deployed to support impacted NSW communities throughout the May 2025 event, supported by Australian Red Cross, Country Fire Authority (CFA) and Fire and Rescue NSW members throughout.

Quotes attributable to Melanie Gill, VICSES Manager Emergency Management Planning:

“This integration was a significant milestone for VICSES which proved its value and will pave the way for similar collaboration in the emergency management space going forward.

“I’m incredibly proud of what our volunteers were able to achieve in their communities in just a few days, and the lasting impact they had through supportive, compassionate conversations and actions throughout.”