Impact Snapshot 7

Wardell CORE: Mid-to-End Year Impact Report (July - December 2023)

Please feel free to distribute this information to any associate that may require general information on the ongoing support requirements offered and needed in the Wardell community. The following snapshot is captured from our visitor registration, event registration, and participation to demonstrate the positive impact of our organisation and the ongoing support needs of our community

Wardell CORE continues to serve as a vital lifeline for our community, offering a wide range of services and initiatives aimed at fostering resilience and recovery. Throughout the latter half of 2023, our organisation achieved several notable milestones and made significant impacts in various areas:

  • Community Engagement: : Our weekly community social continued to provide essential food relief and foster social connection for residents in Wardell and surrounding areas. This initiative has garnered significant community engagement, with a growing number of volunteers actively participating in its operations.

  • Disaster Preparedness: Recognising the need for enhanced disaster response capabilities, Wardell CORE embarked on a project to establish a rapid response mobile food kitchen. With the invaluable support of partners like the Rotary Club of Ballina on Richmond, we aim to alleviate dependency on external support agencies and provide critical food relief during emergencies.

  • Partnerships and Recognition:Wardell CORE's efforts have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by our growing network of partnerships with organisations such as the Lennox Lions Club, Ballina Rotary Club, Alstonville Rotary Club, Red Cross, and others. We have also been recognised with a number of awards and featured in case studies and research.

  • Community Support Services: Our organisation continues to address the diverse needs of our community, providing critical support to individuals and families experiencing ongoing trauma, mental health challenges, financial hardship, domestic violence, and housing insecurity. Through our crisis centre and various support programs, we strive to offer comfort, continuity of care, and pathways to recovery for those in need.

  • Advocacy and Leadership: Wardell CORE remains at the forefront of advocating for social and community services in the Ballina region. We have identified and addressed gaps in service provision, particularly in response to rising costs of living, the end of emergency accommodation, and reduced recovery funding. Our organisation serves as a voice for vulnerable demographics, ensuring their needs are heard and met.

As we reflect on the achievements and impacts of Wardell CORE in the latter half of 2023, we reaffirm our commitment to serving our community with dedication, compassion, and resilience. We welcome continued collaboration and support from our existing and new partners as we work together to build a stronger, more resilient Wardell.

Quarterly Impact Snapshot 6

2nd quarter 2023, April - June

Please feel free to distribute the following information to any associate that may require general information on the ongoing support requirements offered and needed in the Wardell community.
The following is our second quarterly impact snapshot from 2023 and we will be soon combining the previous data captured into our annual report. The details here are captured from our visitor registration, event registration and participation records to summarize in brief the positive impact that we are creating and the ongoing support needs of our community.


Wardell CORE remains as a crisis centre, a place for comfort and as a platform inspiring our community to recreate itself through connection, collaboration and creativity. We are now owned and led by over 200 financial members from our community who have demonstrated just how effective and capable communities can be in leading their own recovery.

We have continued to provide dedicated aid with navigating the complexities of flood recovery and assistance to the wider community by providing a comforting environment, continuity of care and critical support to a wide range of citizens experiencing:

  • ongoing trauma

  • critical mental health challenges

  • financial hardship

  • severe health issues

  • women escaping domestic violence

  • suicidal thoughts and risk of harm

  • housing insecurity

  • social isolation

  • seniors support


Social isolation and disconnection, along with physical and mental health decline, are worsened by experiences of homelessness, extreme housing insecurity, or residing in barely habitable conditions. Vulnerable demographics within our community, such as the elderly, single women, young families, and Indigenous community members, are disproportionately exposed to social inequality, diminishing capabilities, and a heightened reliance on community support services and other forms of social assistance.

There is a very long way to go and we are committed to being available to support our community to navigate the complex journey of recovery. Evidence from the bushfires and other disasters demonstrates that this situation is likely to persist for many years and that repair works and resources to help people recover will take much longer than anticipated leading to the even further mental health decline and conditions which severely impact people's health.

We are available by phone or in person by arrangement to discuss any inquiries with regard to the operation of the Wardell CORE community facility.

Wardell CORE Quarterly Impact Summery 5

We have now past a number of 1 year milestones at WardellCORE, this quarter we marked one years since the flood and also one year of the continuation of our services. We have once again reviewed the details of our community facility's activity, engagement and impact.

We capture and provide the information below to demonstrate the ongoing support needs of our community and to advocate for resources and investment in our region's recovery. WardellCORE have demonstrated resourcefulness, competence and capability in delivering place-based solutions and recovery support in partnership with the community that we support.

Our services continue to experience high demand for support from a large number of community members from our region. We provide dedicated aid with navigating the complexities of flood recovery and assistance to the wider community by providing a comforting environment, continuity of care and critical support to a wide range of citizens experiencing:

  • ongoing trauma

  • critical mental health challenges

  • financial hardship

  • severe health issues

  • women escaping domestic violence

  • suicidal thoughts

  • housing insecurity

  • social isolation

  • a need for seniors support

This is also a fantastic opportunity to show our most sincere appreciation for the wide range of essential stakeholders that support our communities ongoing recovery and help us to build resilience while also preparing for an uncertain future. We have so many organisations, charities, partners and essential individuals to thank.

WardellCORE is a community-led registered Charity and Incorporated Association of 199 financial members from our district and we welcome anyone from our region to join as a member in support of our community facility and the work we are doing to build community networks and develop resilience for the future. {If you are not a yet a member, you can join here }

Our funding and program resources have been provided through partnerships with NSW Government, Healthy North Coast, Northern Rivers Community Foundation and an even wider range of community organisations, charities and local businesses. We depend on the generosity and kindness of a huge team of passionate community members, volunteers and pro-bono service providers.

We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback and endorsement from our community and from all of the impact partnerships that we have developed with respected associates. The testimonials from clients and our community speak for themselves and we are confident that we are continuing to save lives through suicide awareness, domestic violence support and ensuring that we minimise the wider impacts of financial insecurity.

This quarterly snapshot provides an overview of our impact over the past 3 months which is quantified by a hub visitor registration system and surveys which demonstrates useful information on visitor demographics, community needs and a reflection of our most recent milestones.We remain open 5 days per week from Tuesday to Saturday at 3 Sinclair Street Wardell.

We are available by phone or in person by arrangement to discuss any inquiries with regard to the operation of the Wardell CORE community facility. If there is any confusion or concern around our activities and intentions we openly encourage you to contact our management team directly.

We are also grateful that while many people come for much needed support that we are able to offer a place of comfort, simple cups of tea and company, entertainment and engagement to everyone in the community whether they have been severely impacted by last years natural disaster or not at all.

Come one and all, we are open to everyone in our Community.

If you would like to support our ongoing community revival efforts and help us support people most in need please donate to our charity.

Donate Direct

4th Quarter : October - December 2022

3rd Quarter : June - September 2022