Meet Wardell CORE

Tell us about Wardell CORE. What is your mission?

Wardell Community Organised Resilience Effort Inc. (Wardell CORE) was founded in the wake of the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods. What began as a grassroots emergency response has grown into a recognised service for the region through the established Wardell Neighbourhood Centre.

The mission of Wardell CORE is to strengthen community resilience by providing practical support, wellbeing services, and inclusive opportunities for connection.

Wardell CORE has created a safe and welcoming space where people can share meals, access support, and rebuild their lives. Through social eating programs, seniors’ activities, and initiatives that reduce isolation, Wardell CORE provides companionship and essential peer support networks. Wardell CORE also offers vital services such as showers, internet access, and a place of comfort for vulnerable community members.

A critical outcome of the work has been the creation of initiatives that build lasting resilience, including community safety plans, local radio networks, and vulnerability registers to support those most at risk in future disasters. Wardell CORE continues to expand training programs that upskill the community in mental health and psychological first aid, suicide intervention and prevention, and other areas that strengthen individual and community wellbeing.

What are your programs/initiatives and why do you run them?

Wardell CORE delivers a wide range of programs that directly respond to local needs, including:

• Food Relief & Fresh Produce Program – pantry bags and subsidised produce boxes for over 100 families each fortnight, reducing food insecurity and ensuring access to fresh, nutritious food.
• Social Eating Programs – pizza nights, morning teas, and community meals designed to reduce isolation and bring people together.
• Mental Health & Wellbeing Support – counselling, peer groups, movement therapy, and trauma recovery workshops offering accessible, inclusive, non-clinical, place-based support, alongside referral pathways and wraparound assistance.
• Seniors & Vulnerable Support – companionship, activities, and access to essential services such as showers, internet, resources, and material aid.
• Emergency Preparedness & Resilience – community safety planning, emergency radio training, and disaster readiness initiatives.

These programs ensure the community is not only supported today, but also prepared and resilient for the challenges of tomorrow.

How do you involve volunteers in your programs?

Volunteers are the lifeblood of Wardell CORE. They support every aspect of its work — from material aid, food relief, and peer support to event coordination, training, and resilience-building programs. Many have lived through the same challenges as those they now help, making their contribution both practical and deeply personal.

The Wardell CORE volunteers also play active roles in the general operations of the Neighbourhood Centre, serving on strategic planning, operations, and governance committees, helping with social groups, and contributing to a growing network of onsite and offsite projects.

How do your volunteers make a difference in the community?

Wardell CORE volunteers are the beating heart of Wardell. They provide nourishment, companionship, and encouragement — lifting spirits, reducing isolation, and ensuring vulnerable people feel seen and supported. Their efforts in food relief, social connection, and disaster resilience make a tangible difference every single day.

Do you have any stories from your volunteers?

Many Wardell CORE volunteers first joined after losing their own homes in the floods. For them, volunteering has offered both purpose and healing. One of Wardell CORE’s most senior volunteers travels more than 30 km up to four times a week to find connection and contribute. She has become a “nanna” to many — cradling children while mothers access support, helping with the Wardell CORE fresh produce program, and offering a warm smile and listening ear to anyone who needs comfort. She often reflects on how much she gains from volunteering, describing it as finding a new “family.” Her story shows how volunteering not only supports others, but also creates belonging.

What resources and services have helped to support your volunteering programs?

Wardell Neighbourhood Centre has benefited from a wide range of partnerships, resources, and training opportunities made possible through organisations like The Centre for Volunteering. These supports have helped Wardell CORE offer services beyond capacity, provided the team with new skills, and built lasting relationships with peer organisations.

Why did your organisation become a member of The Centre? What benefit has it brought your organisation?

Membership has connected Wardell CORE with a state-wide network, providing visibility, credibility, and valuable learning opportunities. It helps us stay up to date with policy, research, and sector advocacy, and gives Wardell CORE the tools to demonstrate the broader impact of its work. It has also enabled Wardell CORE to showcase its efforts more broadly to partners, volunteers, and stakeholders.

What have you learnt about the value of volunteering or volunteer management?

Wardell CORE has learnt that volunteering is transformative — for the giver, the receiver, and the wider community. Effective volunteer management is about valuing people, creating meaningful roles, and nurturing respectful relationships. This is how resilience and wellbeing truly grow.

What would you say to someone thinking of volunteering?

Wardell CORE hopes to create a role for anyone interested in contributing at Wardell Neighbourhood Centre. Whether you want to cook, garden, help at events, or support others in times of crisis, your contribution can make a real difference. Volunteering with Wardell CORE isn’t just about giving — it’s about belonging, growing, and becoming part of something bigger.  Wardell CORE is always on the lookout for people with specialist skills who can offer support in project management, social services, health, wellbeing and community development. Wardell CORE is also keen to hear from people who would like to provide gentle support, companionship and comfort, and who can make a great cup of tea.

LEARN MORE ABOUT WARDELL CORE

Membership

The Centre is proud to support organisations like Wardell CORE, doing important work in the community.

Membership with The Centre for Volunteering has given Wardell CORE visibility, credibility and a state-wide network of support. It keeps us connected to policy, research and sector advocacy, while equipping us with the tools to showcase our impact to partners, volunteers and the wider community.”

– Wardell CORE