Social Futures comes together under one roof

At a time when traumatised residents needed the agency’s help, Social Futures was facing its own “troubling time” as the February 2022 floods damaged all four of the agency’s premises in Lismore - destroying technology and displacing staff.

Social Futures Chief Financial Officer Michael Carter said it was a terrible time.

“The impact the flood had on the organisation’s operations meant staff had to work from their bedrooms, car sheds and church halls,” Mr Carter said.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme partner, which delivers homelessness support, headspace youth mental health services and family and youth support, did everything it could to ensure they continued to service a community desperately in need.

Two years since the flood and the river which devastated so many lives now flows only metres away from Social Futures’ new Lismore Service Hub at 29 Molesworth Street.

“We knew when we rebuilt, we needed to bring everything together to establish a premises that offered staff and our clients a sense of stability,” Mr Carter said.

Social Futures received $899,360 from the Anchor Business Support Program. Funding has allowed the agency to bring all its services together under one roof, and while the Wilsons River is close by, its services sit above the 2022 flood level.

Mr Carter said the agency was now one ‘service hub’ in Lismore.

“On Level 1 we minimised our reception area, maintaining front of house staff with initial consulting rooms. We fitted the space out with flood resilient materials that can be easily cleaned or removed should we be threatened by inundation.”

“On the upper floors and flexible consultation rooms and inviting office space has been established, providing staff with a permanent space to work well above any future floods.

“Importantly the new refurbished space means we can bring back 120 staff into Lismore’s Central Business District to meet face-to-face with community members in need of support.”

Social Futures opened its new Hub in October 2022.

The $59.3 million Anchor Business Support Grant Program is jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments and has assisted flood-affected large businesses in the Northern Rivers to recover, rebuild and resume normal operations sooner. 

Recipients matched Government funding dollar-for-dollar.

**Link to a downloadable case study video of Social Futures' Anchor Business Support Grant Program project can be found HERE.