The NSW Government has announced an extension of the $5 million Repair to Return program, which completed property repair and plumbing works in 359 flood-damaged homes across Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

The program provided critical recovery support following the 2022 floods and will now continue until June 2026.

The successful program will extend with not-for-profit donation platform GIVIT, contributing funds from the 2022 NSW Storms and Flooding Appeal. This new partnership aims to deliver up to 80 additional projects, supported by GIVIT funds to complete essential repair work across the region.

Resilient Lismore will operate the program, ensuring more Northern Rivers residents get the help they need to repair their homes. Both Resilient Lismore and GIVIT have played key roles in the region’s recovery since the 2022 disaster.

Resilient Lismore began its housing repair work with funding from the Diocese of Lismore, the Winsome Soup Kitchen and the Reece Foundation, before receiving a $5 million election commitment from the NSW Government in 2023 that allowed the program to expand significantly.

The program launched in October 2023, coordinating tradespeople, labourers and volunteers to help rebuild homes. They also provide outreach and referrals to community support services. Priority is given to vulnerable people and those who cannot afford to pay for repair work themselves.

GIVIT is contracted by the NSW Government to manage monetary donations as well as essential goods and services to support people impacted by emergency events across the state, working with councils, outreach teams, charities and community groups to identify exactly what’s needed. Since 2022, GIVIT has facilitated more than $12,354,000 in donations and more than 800,000 goods and services to flood-affected households in northern NSW.  

Under the extended program, home owner-occupiers from the seven Local Government Areas across the Northern Rivers, still needing essential home repairs, can apply directly through Resilient Lismore’s website, in person at the Lismore Hub, or via referral from Recovery Support Services or the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Once an application is received, Resilient Lismore will assess eligibility and coordinate the necessary repair works.

Learn more and apply online at https://resilientlismore.org.au/services/repair-to-return/, call 0455 218 692, or visit Resilient Lismore at 215 Keen Street, Lismore.

Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said, “The home repair work supported by local organisations and philanthropists has been one of the most heartening stories to emerge from the 2022 floods.

“Resilient Lismore has achieved significant outcomes in restoring homes and supporting households across the Northern Rivers, reflecting just how important their work is to our city and country. 

“This new partnership between the NSW Reconstruction Authority, GIVIT and Resilient Lismore demonstrates the real impact that can be achieved when government, local community organisations and donors work together.”

GIVIT Chief Executive Officer Chris Staines said, “We are pleased to enter this partnership with Resilient Lismore and the NSW Reconstruction Authority that will support people across the Northern Rivers who are living in homes that still require essential repairs.

“We are committed to working with communities for as long as it takes for them to recover.”

Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird said, “The damage to housing across our region in 2022 was widespread and the necessary repair required has been challenging for folks who don’t have the financial capacity to manage it on their own.”

“We’re very grateful that we can continue this important work into 2026 with this additional support from GIVIT and from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and we are thankful for the trust they have placed in us to continue to deliver this proven, on-the-ground approach to recovery.”