Flood waters engulfed the streets of Lismore. Southern Cross University will fund seven research and community engagement projects to aid ongoing flood recovery in the NSW Northern Rivers.
Vice Chancellor Professor Tyrone Carlin this week announced the successful applicants in the VC Flood Recovery Project Scheme. The projects will each receive $25,000 and are to be completed within 12 months.
Community engagement is a priority of the scheme. The projects include the future health and use of the Richmond River; a digital archive of the Richmond Catchment; the impact of the floods on young people and marginalised groups; and creation of an online map of community resources contributing to recovery.
"These projects will add to Southern Cross University's deep involvement in the recovery of the Northern Rivers after the devastating floods of early 2022," said Professor Carlin.
"The scheme is designed to support existing flood recovery initiatives or to help seed new innovative solutions that will assist the Northern Rivers community into the future."
The successful applicants and their projects are:
- Associate Professor Adele Wessell: create an online data repository to understand how to manage the Richmond River catchment and restore its health.
- Professor Amanda Reichelt-Brushett: document community aspirations for the Richmond River Catchment to inform management goals, future decision making, volunteer activity and investment accountability.
- Professor Amy Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles: identify the flood experience of children and youth, and the impact on education.
- Professor Andrew Rose: map the network of community resources contributing to flood recovery and produce a graphic directory of service providers to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.
- Mr Brendan Cox: create and coordinate an ongoing citizen science program to assess riverine ecosystem health across the catchment.
- Dr Feifei Tong: collect and analyse an estimated 10,000 photographs and videos taken during the flood, culminating in a digital map to guide flood forecasting and emergency responses.
- Associate Professor Mathew Leach: explore the association between flood exposure and mental health and wellbeing among marginalised groups to guide ongoing disaster support and mental health services.
