05/03/2026
This week marks four years since the February/March 2022 floods, and for many in Lismore and the Northern Rivers, this time of year brings a lot back.
Lismore has faced floods for generations. For Beyond Barriers Supportโs founders, Corbyn and Emma, 2017 was the first time it personally disrupted life. At 23, access to work was lost, uni was thrown off track, and community suddenly meant everything.
By February 2022, Beyond Barriers Support was still a dream, a conversation, but we were already deeply connected to support work and employment consulting. When the flood hit, Emma was 23 weeks pregnant. Our family was flooded out too, and at first we couldnโt access town, but we knew there was a huge amount of work ahead for everyone.
Corbyn was serving as a retained on-call firefighter with 362 Lismore at the time, and we hold deep respect for the firefighters and first responders who step in during these moments, and who continue to serve our region. (Goonellabah and Lismore are always looking for new recruits).
Once access returned, we did what so many locals did, we showed up. Corbyn helped pull destroyed furniture out to the road, while Emma collected donated meals from to deliver to friends whoโd been flooded and were without power/cooking. We supported loved ones who had lost their homes, and shared our home with friends and family who needed somewhere safe to stay. Small moments of hope mattered too, like the familiar comfort of firing back up.
We also know this is just one story. Every one of our team members, and every participant, carries their own flood story, how it changed routines, homes, work, health, and hope. These stories connect our community on a deep, personal level.
These moments became stepping stones, helping shape the foundations of Beyond Barriers Support: built from lived experience, community, and the belief that hope and empowerment can be rebuilt, together. ๐
If you feel comfortable, share in the comments one small moment of kindness or support you remember from 2022.