The Northern Rivers region of NSW has experienced compounding climate disasters in recent years. Previous local research found that formal mental health services are not often accessed following a disaster and that grassroots, place-based community groups, mainly led by women, provide supplementary support to community wellbeing in disaster recovery.
A research collaboration between the University Centre for Rural Health, Northern NSW LHD, Plan C, The Peregrine Centre and Northern Rivers Community Foundation aimed to explore the contribution grassroots groups make to the wellbeing of communities as this has not been well recorded.
A heatmap showing the points of intersection between the health system and community groups post-disaster demonstrated that Community Resilience Networks (CRNs) (mostly convened by Councils) were the governance arrangement that attracted the largest diversity of groups and organisations, enabling cross-fertilisation. The health system was represented at CRNs, including government and non-government organisations.
Four case studies revealed that grassroots groups can offer:
 Culturally safe and unbureaucratic interactions
 Deep understanding of local context
 Healing spaces and activities such as yarning and weaving circles
 Social connection events like pizza nights and sewing groups
 Trusted relationships and continuity in a less clinical environment
Outcomes of these approaches are social connection, support for those who might not otherwise access it, plus mental health benefits for the people running grassroots groups. Challenges for grassroots groups included recognition and financial support, spaces to operate, and burnout.
In March 2026 we ran a successful Learning Event attended by 50 people from community groups, LHD, NGOs, and disaster managers. We found that community led initiatives have an important role to play in post-disaster mental health. This presentation shares insights on approaches being used by community groups, and how we can better enable and support the further development and quality of this work.

As a rural professional who returned to academia at age 40 I brought with me a wealth of industry knowledge. I was also aware there was a huge gap in rural mental health education as I had been out in the isolated New Zealand agriculture industry and seen the impact isolation and depression have. Over the last 7 years I have been on a mission to make Lincoln University the leading agricultural university in the world when it comes to mental health education and preparation. I am always keen to share my story and to share the journey we have been on as a university. This works best as an informal talk with several slides as prompts. I will deliver my personal mental health journey and then explain how that drives what we do as a university. Based on the journal article uploaded.