After years of disruption following the floods, Family Support Network has officially opened the doors to its new premises, marking a fresh chapter for an important family support services.

Community leaders, service providers and local supporters gathered yesterday to celebrate the milestone, reflecting on the journey that brought the organisation back to a permanent home.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said the day was about recognising the people who support the region’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.

“It’s lovely to be here,” she said. “But the really important point is that we’re doing this for our little people. That’s the key today.”

Family Support Network has been part of the Lismore community for more than three decades, providing programs that support children, parents and caregivers through services such as parenting support, playgroups and outreach programs.

For CEO Kaali Ortmann, the opening represents the culmination of years of planning, rebuilding and community support after the floods forced the organisation from its previous location.

“It’s been four years in imagination and planning and workshopping and work,” she told the crowd. “So today is pretty great.”

Ortmann said the organisation’s focus has always remained on the children and families it serves.

“We want to acknowledge our community and the children,” she said. “They’re our driving force. They’re why we get up and come to work, and that’s what this space is all about.”

The new premises have been designed to support both families and the staff who work alongside them, with dedicated spaces for programs, support services and community activities.

Guests were invited to explore the building following a smoking ceremony, experiencing the space rather than marking the occasion with a traditional ribbon-cutting.

“There’s no ribbon to cut,” Ortmann said. “We are opening it by experiencing it. I just want everybody to be here and feel the space.”

Ortmann also spoke about the strength of the Northern Rivers community, particularly in the years since the floods.

“I’m really amazed to stand here and say I’ve got a phone full of numbers,” she said. “When things go wrong, I can call people. The Northern Rivers is amazing.”

Family Support Network board chair Iain Graham said it had been a privilege to be part of the organisation’s leadership during a challenging and transformative period.

“It’s been an interesting journey,” he said, reflecting on his five years in the role. “I have to acknowledge all the team and the work they do.”

Saffin also praised the way community organisations, businesses and government have worked more closely together since the disaster.

“One thing that’s happened since the flood is that people have come together like we haven’t sometimes in previous years,” she said. “That sticking together has been fantastic.”

The new centre restores a vital hub for families across Lismore and the Northern Rivers. With its doors now open, Family Support Network can continue the work it has done for more than 30 years - walking alongside local families and helping children grow up safe, supported and connected to their community.