During the SSVP grant period, we were privileged to work alongside community members from Jubullum Aboriginal Community. Our journey began early in the year with conversations with Auntie Angie and Auntie Roxanne, who generously shared stories from the traumatic 2019–2020 bushfire season and the ongoing work they’ve been doing to support community preparedness.

We’re excited to share that the Northern Rivers Community Resilience Alliance has received multi-year funding through the Disaster Ready Fund Round 3. Plan C was closely involved in developing the successful proposal, and we’re thrilled to see this support heading directly to the grassroots. We also loved catching up with other Alliance members at a recent gathering.

This weekend, our Byron Community Carers & Responders (CCR) participants will complete their final step — First Aid training with Pacific Coast First Aid, our fantastic local provider. We’re so proud of this group and the energy they’ve brought to the program.

Our recent workshop series, Starting the conversation: Disaster planning for community members with support needs and carers, was a deeply meaningful experience. Across the region, people shared stories of resilience, honesty and the real challenges that come with deciding whether to stay or leave early in a disaster. The name truly fit — for many participants, this was the beginning of conversations that have long felt difficult to raise.

Next week is your last chance to attend a Culture Camp with The Returning and Plan C - what a way to wind down the year.

We're returning to beautiful Bundjalung Country for a five-day, fully immersive camp led by The Returning’s cultural facilitators, who share deep knowledge, practices and wisdom that have strengthened their communities for thousands of years.

Plan C will be offering two gentle, introductory sessions on disaster resilience – focusing on emotional, social and practical tools to help people feel a little more prepared and supported when natural disasters affect our region.

We've made the decision to transition from a CEO position to a more hands-on, community-centred role: Managing Director. This reflects our belief that leadership in community resilience is relational, grounded and shared.

If someone in your network leads with kindness, clarity and a steady commitment to community, we’d be grateful if you could pass this on.

Applications close 4 December 2025.

This week, Plan C and The Returning have come together to host a powerful five-day Culture Camp on Bundjalung Country. The camp is bringing together Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants in an intergenerational, two-way learning space, blending disaster preparedness with cultural knowledge and connection to Country.

In November, our new Thriving Kids project rolls out across Queensland and we couldn’t be more excited. We’ve spoken before about the powerful role young people are already playing when their communities go through hard times. This program gives them the space, tools, and support to do that with more confidence and care.

Big cheers for our Clunes CCR crew! This amazing group recently wrapped up their Community Carers & Responders training.

During September, we were proud to deliver three Preparing with Pride workshops in partnership with Tropical Fruits Inc, a series that blended practical disaster preparation with open, heart‑centered conversations.

During the recent school holidays, inspiring young people from Murwillumbah joined us for a four-day Surviving Disasters program at the Murwillumbah Community Centre.

Aged between 12 and 15, this group showed curiosity, leadership, teamwork and great humour as they explored what it means to build resilience in uncertain times. Across the week, they tackled hands-on activities, asked thoughtful questions, and formed strong new friendships along the way.

It's National Carers Week, October 12–18, and at Plan C, we want to pause and thank carers, people with disability, support workers and allies who shared their experiences with us earlier this year. Your voices and stories have helped us understand more deeply what inclusive disaster planning really means, and how we can do better together.

Well, it feels like Spring didn’t hang around long, did it? While we are admiring the silky oaks and jacarandas in bloom, a dry heat has swept in and it feels like summer already. So much for the predicted wet Spring! The weather seems more unpredictable than ever which is a fitting reminder that when it comes to disaster preparedness, the best time to start is now…

As part of our growing work supporting young people to face life’s challenges with confidence and care, we’re excited to share a new project that will happen throughout November in Queensland — Youth Psychological First Aid (PFA) training in Queensland.

We’re currently in the middle of delivering our CCR training in Clunes, and while it’s a small group, they’re deeply engaged and actively contributing. Feedback has been glowing and participants have shared that they’ve learned heaps of new, practical information and really appreciated that the training didn’t feel like a classroom. It’s hands-on, human, and relevant — just the way we like it.

If you missed out, don’t worry, we’ve got two new rounds of CCR training coming up this November in Byron Bay and Grafton. We’d love you to join us or share these opportunities.

Do you or someone you care for have support needs? Plan C warmly invites you to a free, inclusive and practical workshop series designed for people with disability, carers, support workers and allies.

Our very first Preparing with Pride workshop was pure magic.

The first week’s topic was Psychological First Aid and from the moment our Program Director, Rena, and Project Coordinator, Jen, stepped into The Tropical Fruits HQ in Lismore, they were embraced with warmth, colour, and community. The youngest participant was just 14 months old, and a wiggly staffy called Audrey made sure everyone felt welcome!

We're celebrating the incredible Year 11 students from Mullumbimby High, who’ve just completed our 8-week Surviving Disasters youth disaster resilience program!

Congratulations to our Tweed CCR crew! Here’s just a taste of the incredible feedback we received:

Our friends at Resilient Lismore are hosting an online seminar, ‘Meet Your Local Emergency Managers’, on Tuesday 23 September 2025, 2:30–4:00pm (via Teams). It’s a chance to learn who does what in a local emergency, hear directly from SES, Police and RFS leaders, and explore how community groups can connect into emergency management structures. Plenty of time for Q&A.