A vital Aboriginal health service hit hard by the 2022 floods has a brand new, flood-resilient home in Lismore.
Rekindling the Spirit’s new community services building is a major milestone in the Northern Rivers recovery. It will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families with health, mental health, counselling and social support services disrupted by the floods.
The $4.4 million building was funded by the Australian and NSW governments through the Aboriginal Owned Assets Program, which is part of the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
“The 2022 floods had a devastating impact on Rekindling the Spirit’s services in Lismore,” said Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain.
“This new facility marks a major recovery milestone, restoring culturally safe health services and providing a welcoming space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families to connect and access support.”
Rekindling the Spirit is a collaborative primary health care service created by, and for, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. The $44 million program is run by the NSW Reconstruction Authority to help flood-hit First Nations communities recover and rebuild.
“We know it’s crucial that we support Aboriginal-owned assets, especially in rural and regional communities,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris.
“By supporting groups like Rekindling the Spirit we are ensuring that Aboriginal people can receive culturally appropriate services closer to home.”
The service’s existing site at 92 Uralba Street is also being rebuilt. That work is backed by a separate $2.4 million grant and is due to finish later this year. The site provides early intervention, child, and family health services.
“I have worked closely with CEO Chris Binge on flood recovery since 2022, and that shared commitment continues today,” said Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin.
“We wanted to ensure Rekindling the Spirit could not only recover, but re-establish an even stronger, more resilient service, and they have done just that.”
Ms Saffin said the funding delivered the vital social and health infrastructure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities desperately needed after the floods.
Mr Binge thanked the NSW Reconstruction Authority, project managers Marcon, construction partner Alders, and lead architectural firm Maeve.
“This landmark development sets a new benchmark for community infrastructure in Lismore, both architecturally and in construction excellence,” Mr Binge said.
“This achievement represents more than 35 years of advocacy, commitment, and determination by the Widjabul Wia-bal community and its people, who have long fought for a dedicated health service to support the health and wellbeing needs of the Lismore community.”
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