The NSW Government is repairing damage at North Coast schools as quickly as possible as local communities continue to recover from the impacts of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the 2022 flood disaster, with all schools now back open as of Monday.

NSW Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue Car, and NSW Department of Education Secretary, Murat Dizdar, praised the resilience and hard work of local communities during a visit to North Coast schools last week.

Schools and Department of Education staff have been working around the clock since the ex-Tropical Cyclone passed, carrying out safety inspections, mopping up and clearing debris such as fallen trees to enable students to return to the classroom.

Three trucks and two vans supplied additional equipment and resources for affected schools, including an additional 6 generators, 88 air purifiers, 32 air scrubbers, and 11 pallets of bottled water, as well as disposable gloves, paper towels, pump soap, tissues, toilet paper, and personal insect repellents.

All 253 public schools that were closed last week are now back in operation after Coraki Public School, which was being used as an evacuation centre, reopened for students on Monday.

Most schools in the affected areas have avoided major damage, but all outstanding repairs will be carried out as a matter of priority.

During their visit last week, the Deputy Premier and Secretary hosted a roundtable with 17 principals whose schools and local communities have been impacted by both ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and the 2022 flood event. 

They also visited four schools across the Northern Rivers – Byron Bay High School, Lismore South Public School, Mullumbimby Public School and Woodburn Public School – to discuss their recovery progress, along with Member for Lismore and newly-appointed Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin and Member for Ballina Tamara Smith.

The NSW Department of Education is continuing to work with schools to ensure students and staff affected by the disaster get the mental health and wellbeing support they need through counselling services and school-based wellbeing nurses.  

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said, “We know how resilient North Coast communities are, and with ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, we have again seen how difficult times bring out the best in people.

“I want to thank our parents and carers for their patience and understanding as we have worked as quickly as possible to make sure our schools are all safely reopened.

“I also want to thank the many thousands of volunteers, including our teachers and education support staff, who rallied together to support their communities.”

Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin said, “Gale-force winds from Tropical Cyclone Alfred and subsequent flooding caused major disruption to public schools and led to some schools’ infrastructure being damaged.

“I know that this put a lot of pressure on our school communities across the North Coast so I praise principals, teachers, support staff for their professionalism in coping with what was a prolonged weather event.

“Students, together with their parents and caregivers, were also very patient as 253 public schools had to close until we could ensure it was safe to return to class.

“It’s great that all of these schools are back in operation with mental health and wellbeing support in place for those who might need it and a commitment from Deputy Premier and Education Minister Prue Car that repairs are being prioritised.”

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar said, “This disaster has again demonstrated how vital our public schools are to their communities, in some cases acting as evacuation centres for people in need.

“We hoped for the best and prepared for the worst – and we are so relieved that the worst did not eventuate.

“Schools and communities appreciated the early decisions in terms of their operational status, and the support they’ve received so they were able to prepare accordingly.

“We are working hard to ensure affected communities are given all the support they need during their recovery.”