Flood resilience and recovery
The flood recovery program supports refugee and migrant women and their families affected by the 2022 floods in Maribyrnong.
It does this by bringing together displaced community members, giving people and opportunity to share their stories and resilience and supporting people to access services that support their recovery.
Since 2021 we have held local community events giving people in Maribyrnong who were affected by flooding the chance to reconnect, learn about their rights and available support services and access funding information.
We are looking for people to join our 'Let’s Reconnect: Gardening Working Bee' for daily gardening session in Maribyrnong on 11 May, 1 June and 23 June. For more information and to register click here.
Our Community, Our Voice: Lessons from the 2022 Maribyrnong Flood
This report is based on interviews with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds who were impacted by the flooding of the Maribyrnong river in 2022, and makes recommendations to improve disaster responses in the future.
Web Series
Hear from community voices about mental health and wellbeing and how to get help.
Asel
It's okay to ask for help when you are anxious or stressed. There is help out there in my language and my community.
Asel Kebede is currently working in the community sector doing support work and also studying Bachelor of Youth Work to further expand her knowledge. She is a very committed and hardworking person, raising her three beautiful children on my own.
Kuldip
Mental health support begins from our home. As husbands it is our duty to share all responsibilities with our wife.
Kuldip Singh has been working in the community for over 20 years helping newly arrived international students and migrants settle in Ballarat and Melbourne's west by providing information and support. In his spare time, he enjoys gardening and exercising.
Mai
For me help looks like someone giving you a hand when you need it. Sometimes you need help, you cannot do it on your own.
Mai Nguyen is a Vietnamese community leader. She is the President of the Australian Vietnamese Arts and Cultures group who supported and provided food and vouchers to Maribyrnong flood affected residents in the first week after the flood.
Yonas
Take care of the people who take care of you - your wife, your mum, your kids.
Yonas Shefaraw is an Ethiopian community leader. Yonas loves being a connector and organiser, leading projects and helping community members. He is actively involved in many local groups, including the Ethiopian Community Association, Ethiopian Women’s Alliance and the Yidnekachew Tessema Social Soccer Club.
Thuy
I sought help when I felt like I was struggling with things. Help is readily available.
Thuy Pham is a flood affected resident in Maribyrnong. She did all the cleaning work inside the house by herself as her husband worked away from home. She is also active in connecting flood affected residents and providing her knowledge where to get help for them.
We are supported by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.
