APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
Holding Hands Under Ground (HHUG) has formed a partnership with Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) to mobilise professional engineers able to offer voluntary support to flood-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region.
ARE YOU NEEDING ENGINEERING SUPPORT DUE TO THE FLOODS IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS?
If you are needing engineering support such as a structural assessment on your house, geotechnical assessment on a landslide, advice on washed out waterway crossing please fill in our Community Engineering Support Form. If you don't have insurance, are currently experiencing financial hardship and your issue isn't subject to a decision or action by an authority then we may be able to help you.
We will be seeking to help as many residents who need this support as possible. Though we also acknowledge that the volunteer engineers signing up to help will only be able to fill some of the many needs of residents across the Northern Rivers in this complex time. We sincerely hope everyone can find the support they need, whether through this initiative, government or other community organisation initiatives.
See diagram outlining key steps in the process of receiving engineering support through this initiative here.
See Frequently Asked Questions here.
Please note: this is the first time Engineers Without Borders has worked in a flood disaster zone in Australia. It is currently a completely volunteer run initiative which is in its pilot phase. We are seeking funding for continuation beyond this phase.
Our goal with all care and work being offered by HHUG and EWB members and staff to deliver this pilot, is to create a strong working model that EWB can mobilise across Australia in future climate disasters when needed and requested by relevant local host partners.
We welcome all constructive feedback in support of the development of this initiative.
CALL FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
If you are a professional engineer with a background in civil, structural, geo-technical engineering and/or program management, we need your help! Please consider signing up as one of our recovery volunteers and help support recovery efforts for flood-affected communities.
If you live in the Northern NSW region and can provide short-term accommodation for our volunteers, we’d love to hear from you. We're looking for community members to host our volunteers anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks whilst they contribute to the flood recovery response. If you have available accommodation, please fill in our Billeting Host Expression of Interest Form. Please email ella@hhug.org.au if you have any questions about billeting prior to filling in the form.
If you are from a local Council or organisation, we would welcome a conversation with you to discuss how we can work together to support flood-affected communities in the Northern Rivers region. Please contact EWB and HHUG at info@ewb.org.au to discuss.
If you’re a photographer, videographer or journalist based in Northern NSW, please consider volunteering your time to assist EWB Australia and HHUG in our storytelling efforts. Images and footage captured will be used in blog posts and social media. If you are interested in volunteering your time and expertise to tell the stories of communities impacted by the floods, please click here, then scroll down to click on ‘Videographers, Photographers and Journalists (Northern NSW Region).
To donate to support the running costs of this project and our ongoing Community-Led Flood Crisis Operations, Mullumbimby and Northern Rivers, please reach out to HHUG co-director Ella Rose Goninan at ella@hhug.org.au
Ella will answer any questions you may have and can guide you through our DGR Gateway.
WHO IS EWB
Engineers Without Borders Australia (EWB) is a for-purpose member-based, community organisation that creates social value through humanitarian engineering. Established in Australia in 2004, EWB works with First Nations Communities in Australia and with communities in the Asia Pacific region. Through partnership and collaboration it has focussed on developing skills, knowledge and appropriate engineering solutions for almost two decades. EWB’s National Office and staff team are located in Melbourne and volunteer Chapters across Australia.