Media release: Safe Haven North Coast wins 2026 Resilient Australia Award

Safe Haven North Coast has been recognised for its contribution to community recovery and resilience, winning the 2026 Resilient Australia Award for NSW in the Mental Health and Wellbeing category.

Established in response to the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, Safe Haven North Coast provided an accessible pathway to mental health and wellbeing support for communities affected by disaster.

Funded by NSW Health, commissioned by Healthy North Coast and delivered by The Buttery, Safe Havens operated in Lismore, Mullumbimby, Murwillumbah and Woodburn as locally-designed disaster recovery services for people experiencing mental health challenges.

From July 2022 to June 2026, Safe Haven North Coast supported 22,750 participants, delivered more than 34,000 occasions of service and provided more than 14,000 hours of counselling.

The service offered free, walk-in support without the need for a referral, diagnosis or formal intake. People could access support from peer workers, clinicians and case managers, while also connecting with practical supports including housing, financial, alcohol and other drug, disaster recovery and social services.

Healthy North Coast CEO Monika Wheeler said the award recognised the importance of locally designed support that can adapt as community needs change:

“Safe Haven North Coast was designed around the needs of each local community. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, each site created a welcoming space where people could simply walk in, sit down for a cup of tea and talk to a mental health professional.

“Importantly, people didn’t need a referral, diagnosis or formal intake to access support. They could connect with a peer worker, clinician or case manager and get the support they needed, when they needed it. That accessibility and local connection has been central to the service’s impact.”

The Buttery CEO Leone Crayden said Safe Haven North Coast demonstrated the value of providing people with a welcoming place to seek support when they need it:

“We are honoured to see Safe Haven North Coast recognised through the Resilient Australia Awards. This achievement reflects the support and commitment of Healthy North Coast, the strength of genuine collaboration across the region, and the courage of the many people who have engaged with and shaped the service.

“We thank our participants, staff, peer workers, partners and local communities for helping create a model built on connection, inclusion and hope. At its heart, our Safe Havens demonstrate what is possible when communities come together to support wellbeing and build resilience.”

Evaluation of the program found an average 1.9-point reduction (out of 10, self-reported) in distress for service users following a Safe Haven North Coast visit, as well as improved social connection and evidence of reduced presentations to local emergency departments for mental health related issues.

During Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February 2025, Safe Haven North Coast staff also continued delivering support through recovery centres, demonstrating the service’s adaptability in responding to changing disaster and community needs.

Having won the NSW award, Safe Haven North Coast will now compete in the National Resilient Australia Awards which will take place in late 2026.

The Resilient Australia Awards, conducted by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR), recognise initiatives that build resilience and help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.

The full list of NSW Award finalists and winners will soon be available at nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority/about-us/awards.