Partnering with Community Plus to build a Resilient Future

In 2023, the Queensland and Australian Government introduced the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund (RHF) to support homeowners impacted by the devastating 2021-2022 flood events. Across 39 local government areas, eligible Queenslanders are being given the opportunity to rebuild, repair, raise, or even relocate their flood-affected homes. Working within the RHF landscape, we are proud to partner with Community Plus Queensland Inc, an organisation deeply embedded in Brisbane’s community, to deliver on this crucial initiative and help families secure a safer and more resilient future.

Community Plus and Their Role in the Resilient Homes Fund

Community Plus has long been a pillar of social justice and community advocacy. From humble beginnings, they have grown into a vital presence in Brisbane’s Inner South, with a steadfast commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of all residents. Their work in placemaking and community empowerment, particularly through their neighbourhood centres and resilience services, places them at the heart of positive change.

As part of the Resilient Homes Fund, Community Plus’s Queensland Community Resilience Team is at the frontline, offering invaluable support to flood-affected residents. Their Service Navigators work tirelessly across the Brisbane Local Government Area, guiding homeowners through the complex process of applying for RHF funding and managing their home repairs or rebuilds. This hands-on approach helps families, many still recovering from the trauma of the floods, feel confident and supported every step of the way.

For any homeowner, embarking on such a significant journey of change—whether it be repairing, raising, or rebuilding—can feel overwhelming. This is where Community Plus steps in, simplifying the process and offering much-needed emotional and logistical support.

A Collaborative Approach to Building a Resilient Future

At Austen Building Group, we are committed to making Queensland homes safer and stronger in the face of future flooding and severe weather events. Our partnership with Community Plus has already led us to working with them on over a dozen RHF projects across Brisbane, with active projects currently underway in Rocklea, Coopers Plains, Oxley and Kelvin Grove. Each project is designed to not only repair flood damage but also implement resilient upgrades—such as raising homes and retrofitting properties with flood-resistant materials—ensuring these homes are better equipped to withstand Queensland’s unpredictable weather patterns.

We deeply value our working relationship with Community Plus as their team has been instrumental in bridging the gap between homeowners, builders, and the RHF Assessment Team. Through their commitment to communication and community engagement, they streamline the RHF process, ensuring that every party remains aligned and informed.

In the words of Jo Sullivan, Service Navigator Lead at Community Plus:

“One of the biggest challenges from the outset, for us as community workers was finding builders who had the knowledge, skills, willingness, patience and understanding to consider embarking on this journey with us.

ABG have adopted our wraparound approach and fully co-operate and collaborate to work towards a better outcome for the communities that we work within. We acknowledge that without ABG and our other valued support partners in the building industry and community support sector, including Community Plus QLD itself, we would not have seen so many successfully completed houses ready to welcome back the people who call them ‘home’.”

This partnership allows both organisations to work towards the same goal: ensuring that Queensland homes and families are better prepared for the future.

Looking Ahead: Our Shared Commitment

The Resilient Homes Fund is more than a construction initiative—it is a community-driven effort to help Queenslanders recover, rebuild, and thrive. By working with Community Plus, we are not just restoring homes; we are building a future where communities can feel safer in their own homes through Queensland’s tumultuous summer floods.

As projects continue in flood-affected regions, we look forward to further collaborations that demonstrate the power of collective action. Together with Community Plus, we are helping to build stronger homes, more resilient communities, and a brighter future for South-East Queensland.

You can find out more about Community Plus and their involvement in the local community by heading to their website: https://communityplus.org.au/