Our impact

Salvation Army Emergency Services personnel and volunteers provided 3105 hot meals and refreshments to people affected by the floods and first responders during the first two weeks of the floods. While the team supported 16 evacuation centres, they were physically present in two, where they served the meals directly. 

As evacuation centres closed, The Salvation Army,  in partnership with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, supported eight recovery hubs from 27 May to 13 June, distributing $1,148,900 in hardship grants and 546 sessions of psychosocial support to people impacted by the floods.

Salvation Army Emergency Services, including 88 incredible volunteers who provided 2659 volunteer hours, supported 7769 adults and 2219 children. Thank you to all of our supporters, donors and partners.

Recovery support has now concluded. If you have been impacted by the floods and need assistance, please go to the Need Help page for information about how The Salvation Army can assist.

Our three-phased approach to disasters supports people from the moment a disaster hits to recovery efforts and rebuilding resilience. Backed by The Salvation Army’s wrap around services, we are there for the long haul, helping people get the assistance they need to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

• Resilience — our aim is to integrate disaster risk recovery and resilience into our model of care. Our focus on resilience strives to collaborate with families and communities, to identify opportunities and risks, strengthen coping strategies and leverage their existing strengths to restore livelihoods amidst compounding crises.
• Response — deployed with first responders in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, we provide catering and establish safe and friendly rest areas. When the incident managers (usually government) establish evacuation or relief centres, we also provide refreshments, meals, material aid and a friend to talk to.
• Recovery — a coordinated process that can involve a wide range of Salvos services. At the invitation of incident management, our Recovery team provides essential assistance, including financial hardship aid, material support, chaplaincy services and helps navigate referral pathways. Throughout what can be a protracted recovery journey which can span months to years, The Salvos can provide financial counselling and case management. The Salvos have been and continue to be deeply committed to being there for the long haul, to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

As a national organisation that is locally embedded, we not only understand our community, we are a part of it, which means we are often there before, during and after a disaster strikes. We can do this because we work in partnership with Salvos from a wide range of social services across the country, to meet people at their point of need.