What Matters Most?
During August to October 2025, local community members were invited to share their values, priorities and concerns through a series of community values workshops to inform the development of the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan.
Created by Living Lab Northern Rivers in partnership with NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), the workshops used a card sorting exercise where participants ranked 100 cards from ‘matters most’ to ‘matters least’, each representing a valued object, service, role, or outcome.
Participants also completed a booklet with five reflective questions.
Outputs from these activities were mapped into data visuals and summarised into key findings.
Engagement data
What we learnt
A summary of key findings is given below. For workshop details, data analysis and visuals, please read the full What Matters Most report (PDF 3.23MB) online.
Key findings
The following key findings were derived from What Matters Most? card sorting exercises as well as recorded verbal interviews with workshop participants.
01 Environmental health as a regional anchor
Most participants prioritised environmental health, including clean air, healthy waterways, biodiversity, wilderness, and caring for Country. These elements also strongly shaped how people described their community’s character and the environmental foundations they rely on.
02 Essential and public services as daily lifelines
Most participants placed strong importance on essential services, including public hospitals, town water, access to the electrical grid, mobile coverage, emergency services, and public schools. These services featured prominently in what communities rely on, how they describe the places that support connection, and their priorities for government action.
03 Affordability as a consistent pressure point
Many participants identified affordability, specifically affordable rental housing and affordable groceries, as a significant influence on daily life. These were consistently raised as core everyday needs, key government priorities, and pressures affecting community wellbeing.
04 Roads and infrastructure as foundational services
Many participants highlighted infrastructure, particularly well‑maintained roads, as essential to community functioning. Roads appeared frequently in community priorities for government action and were also identified as being under pressure across many communities.
05 Local networks and shared spaces as connective tissues
Many participants associated a strong sense of connection with local networks and places, such as volunteer groups, farmers markets, and local cafés, as well as shared services and facilities, including public schools and parks and reserves. A selection of these spaces and networks were consistently described as central to feeling connected within the community.
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