We provide flood recovery support for women and their families affected by the 2022 flood in Maribyrnong.
We focus on supporting refugee and migrant women and their families due to the compounding impact of disaster on people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Flood Recovery support
In October 2022 a major flood of the Maribyrnong River took place.
Over 500 homes were impacted by the flood and hundreds of residents had to leave their homes.
Since the flood GenWest has been supporting the community by providing spaces for women from migrant and refugee backgrounds to connect and share their stories in a safe and empowering environment. We also support community members to access services that support their flood recovery journey.
As part of this work, we delivered numerous mental health and wellbeing activities including school holiday activities for women and children and gardening working bees for flood-affected families.
Our Community, Our Voice report
In 2024 we publish 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.
We continue to amplify local community voices by being an active member of the Social Recovery Committee and Community Recovery Committee hosted by Maribyrnong City Council.
Flood Insurance Guide: A Maribyrnong Community Initiative
This guide has been designed to help community members navigate the complexities of flood insurance. The guide offers clear and actionable information for any Australian community member who lives in or near a flood zone.
Maribyrnong City Council partnered with GenWest on this project because of our expertise in designing and delivering inclusive and accessible programs.
It has been developed in partnership with insurance, financial, and recovery experts and the Maribyrnong community.
Read more
- GenWest news & events | New guide to flood insurance launched
- Genwest resources | Flood Insurance Guide: A Maribyrnong Community Initiative
Find out more
Read more about the Maribyrnong Insurance Project on the Maribyrnong City Council website. Find some considerations to think about based on the information included in the guide and any up-to-date changes within the insurance sector that may impact the accuracy of the guide.
Watch webinar - Navigating Flood Insurance
GenWest, in partnership with the Maribyrnong Community Recovery Committee and Maribyrnong City Council, has produced a companion webinar to Flood Insurance: A Maribyrnong Community Initiative—a new guide designed to support the local community in preparing for future flood events.
