Supporting Students Post Flood

Hello,

This is Heather Sharp from the School of Education. I am connected to Lismore South Public School through a former Bachelor of Education student, Drucilla Templeton.

I am setting up this fundraiser for colleagues and their friends and family within the College of Human and Social Futures to offer their support. It is aimed at supporting students and their families from Lismore South Public School impacted by the recent devastating flooding. There are lots of efforts being undertaken right now to support families to find accommodation and have their immediate basic needs met. However, many families have lost all that they own. With only small financial means, the cost of replacing items for schooling purposes will be beyond the reasonable reach of many families.

In the words of our former Bachelor of Education student and Faculty Board Member, now teacher at the school, Drucilla wrote to us at the University:

"I am writing to you in desperation on behalf of my school, its staff, students, and the community who have lost everything. Some are still missing and may have lost their lives. South Lismore was worse affected in the disaster, the situation there is not covered on the news as it is still inaccessible. During the height of desperation our teachers and SLSOs rescued approximately 100 people by boats including students, from rooftops and took them to shelter in the school library, the highest safe point as the river surged. Some co-ordinated evac and created order, others went out with volunteers into the night refuelling boats and saving lives. 5 of our 15 staff lost everything but the shirts on their back but continued to save members of our community, many have small children. They have no hope of recovery and put aside their own needs to assist others. Most of our school community now take shelter in the various evac centres in Lismore surviving on donations and support. These people are still the ones volunteering, child minding, organising resources and offering emotional support. They have no homes to return to.

A bit about Lismore South Public School and why we need your help moving forward.

• over 66% of our school population is in the bottom quarter of the Socio-Economic Advantage with only 8% in the top two quartiles, a lot are on the poverty line or in poverty already

• approximately 24% of our students identify as Indigenous, 10% speak a language other than English

• we are on Bundjalung country and celebrate our Indigenous community as partners in the education of our students

• We are a preschool-yr6 school with just over 200 students

• Flood insurance prices became astronomical and unattainable for our already struggling families, and many companies wouldn't cover it after the 2017 flood

• The students have complex needs, many already suffer trauma, some have trauma from the last floods. Rainfall means distress and panic for our students. This is a team that truly puts students' needs before their own and deals with complex and challenging, behavioural, environmental, and educational contexts with passion and commitment.

• All school buildings received water damage and we assume we have lost everything at this stage

I am reaching out for any support the University of Newcastle and its partners can offer Lismore South Public School and Ngulliboo Jarjums Preschool. Our school and community has already suffered significant hardship since the 2017 Lismore flood and the covid-19 crisis. With this unprecedented flooding disaster, the educational and wellbeing needs of our students continues to be of paramount importance."

Funds raised will be forwarded directly to Drucilla at the School to support the purchase of items including: backpacks, books, stationery, school uniforms, and other items related directly to students' schooling needs.

Thank you for any support you can provide, it is greatly appreciated.

Heather Sharp