The flood aftermath is far from over for many but there is no need to walk the path to recovery alone.
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St Agnes' Parish Recovery Support Service has reached out to help disaster-affected residents with high needs in Port Macquarie, Wauchope and the Camden Haven through personalised, holistic case management services.
St Agnes' Parish Recovery Support Service coordinator John McQueen recognised right from the word go, a lot of people in the parish and the community helped people after the floods.
The overall flood recovery effort is multi-faceted and includes the help of St Agnes' Parish Recovery Support Service, grassroots organisations and volunteers, tradespeople and a range of government and non-government services.
The parish's flood recovery support service, funded by Resilience NSW and the federal government, is providing a bespoke client-centric service to high-need flood-impacted residents.
Clients are drawn from Brigadoon Holiday Park, Riverside Residential Village, Dunbogan Caravan Park and Edgewater Caravan Park. That is in addition to other flood-affected clients in the community with high needs.
The service provides individualised support to help clients and families get back on their feet.
Mr McQueen said their work gave the flood-affected residents a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.
"All of a sudden, they have someone working closely with them, giving them a little bit of hope," he said.
The service provides identified clients and families with a single point of contact, connecting them with a recovery support worker who listens to them, identifies requirements and links them with the specialist personal, community and financial services they might require.
Recovery support worker Nette McCoubrie said everyone needed emotional support.
Mrs McCoubrie they were seeing over the next four to six weeks more than 26 people move back into their homes.
But the return home is not yet a reality for everyone.
"I think the biggest thing people don't realise is there is still well over 100 houses that are empty," McCoubrie said.
Mr McQueen said a lot of people were still seriously impacted by the floods and needed a lot more assistance.
Recovery support worker Leonie Maher said people were battling.
"They are all struggling and need our support," she said.
Mr McQueen acknowledged the assistance received from the trades in the flood recovery effort.
"We have been so grateful for the fantastic work of such a variety of trades to help out in the caravan parks," he said.
Call St Agnes' Catholic Parish on 6588 7444 to get in touch with the St Agnes' Parish Recovery Support Service.
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