A community-designed emergency hub guide for the Northern Rivers, a mental health initiative supporting rural communities and a project helping protect First Nations social housing from future hazards are among the NSW winners of the 2026 Resilient Australia Awards.
The awards recognise individuals, organisations and projects making communities safer, stronger and better prepared for disasters and emergencies. Winners were presented with their awards at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House today.
This year’s NSW winners demonstrate practical, community-focused approaches to building resilience, from evidence-based measures that reduce risk before disasters occur, to supporting community organisations and vulnerable people in the critical first 72 hours after an event, and strengthening essential services, mental health and wellbeing throughout the recovery journey.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is the state convenor of the awards, bringing together an independent judging panel of experts from across disaster resilience, community, government and research.
NSW category winners will now be considered for the National Resilient Australia Awards, to be announced later this year.
The Resilient Australia Awards have been recognising outstanding contributions to disaster resilience since 2000 and are managed nationally by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience.
The NSW winners are:
Resilient Australia Community Award
Winner:Resilient Uki Inc. – Northern Rivers Community Emergency Hub Guide
A free, practical guide co-designed with Community Resilience Groups across Byron and Tweed Shires to help communities establish an emergency hub in the first 72 hours of a disaster, without requiring prior training.
Resilient Australia Local Government Award
Winner:Wagga Wagga City Council – Weathering Well
A community resilience initiative strengthening social connection, mental wellbeing and help-seeking across rural communities in the Wagga Wagga and Lockhart areas through events, training and community-led activities.
Resilient Australia Business Award
Winner:Mission Australia – Embedding Enterprise Resilience to Safeguard Essential Community Services
An organisation-wide approach embedding business continuity and resilience across more than 250 services nationally to help maintain essential community services during disruptions.
Resilient Australia Government Award
Winner:Aboriginal Housing Office – Strategic Climate Resilience in First Nations Social Housing
An evidence-based program assessing climate and disaster risks across more than 13,000 Aboriginal Housing Office and Aboriginal Community Housing Provider homes to help target future resilience investment.
Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing Award
Winner:Healthy North Coast – Safe Haven North Coast
A locally designed service providing accessible mental health and wellbeing support to Northern Rivers communities following the 2022 floods, supporting more than 22,000 participants between January 2024 and June 2026.
Resilient Australia Photography Award
The Photography Award is determined through a people’s choice vote on social media.
Winner:Fiona Berry, North Coast Regional Landcare Network – Catchment resilience
For a full list of winners and high commended go to the Resilient Australia Awards page.
Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:
“NSW communities have faced extraordinary challenges, but the spirit of innovation shown by this year’s winners is nothing short of inspiring.
“From safeguarding First Nations housing to designing grassroots emergency hubs in the Northern Rivers, these projects deliver real, practical protection where it’s needed most.
“When we empower communities to lead their own preparation and recovery, we build a safer, more resilient state for everyone.”
NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Kate Fitzgerald said:
“The Resilient Australia Awards recognise that resilience best occurs locally and is driven by the creativity of local communities and organisations.
“The projects recognised this year demonstrate that this is occurring across communities in NSW.
“The NSW Reconstruction Authority is proud to host these Awards as we recognise the people and organisations that commit their time and effort to strengthen disaster preparedness and resilience in NSW.”
