Community for Community

What is RUKI all about?

Resilient Uki (RUKI) is a not-for-profit incorporated association, focused on supporting the Greater Uki area to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies, disasters and crises.

RUKI was born from the flood events of 2022, but it is built on the foundations of the Uki Flood Group which was established in 2014 and has done extensive groundwork in keeping our community informed of flooding risks and response. VISIT THE UKI FLOOD GROUP WEBSITE HERE.

RUKI works to support a grassroots base of neighbourhood groups to assist Uki in being a connected, kind, responsive, robust, resilient, regenerative and healthy community.

We are a diverse group of community volunteers working collaboratively and compassionately to strengthen Uki to become more connected and resilient in this changing world. We are here to support the community to help themselves and each other. RUKI is a completely independent association with no economic, political or religious affiliations.

Our people

The RUKI committee office bearers include: Melanie Bloor (president), Carmen Myler (vice president), Geoffrey Colwill (treasurer) and Brendan Esposito (secretary).

Getting involved

There’s a lot going on in this space and as a grassroots community association, RUKI hopes to involve the whole community. If you would like to know more, please don’t hesitate to contact us at secretary [at] resilientuki.org

Some of the things we have done and are working on:

• Securing hardware for and establishing a community-owned UHF radio network, connecting the Greater Uki area when traditional communications systems are down. Thanks to ITV Australia, GIVIT (with support from NSW Government) and Conservation Volunteers Australia for funding parts of this initiative.
• Improving the community’s resources and capacity by building a cache of well-positioned, community owned assets for immediate, local response to flood or fire. This project is supported by Northern Rivers Community Foundation.
• Establishing a network with neighbouring communities along the Koonyum Range  to support each other when we become isolated. Thank you to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal for funding this program. 
• Assisting the Uki School of the Arts Hall to have off-grid capacity for use as an emergency hub. Thanks to Tweed Shire Council for supporting us in this.
• A Neighbourhoods Project for Greater Uki, supporting the connection and mental health resilience of our neighbourhoods. This project is funded by Healthy North Coast through the North Coast PHN program.
• An online recovery event for more than 600 parents and carers called After the Floods, featuring three national parenting experts who donated their time (Maggie Dent, Dr Kaylene Henderson and Allison Davies. Supported by Riverlane Media).
• Working with emergency services, Council, State Government and other Community Resilience Network stakeholders to better coordinate our response to the next disaster.
• Partnering with Plan C to deliver the Community Carers and Responders program in Uki, training more than 25 local leaders and giving Greater Uki increased capacity for on-the-ground community support in times of disaster and crisis.
• Establishing key relationships with leading disaster response agencies, researchers and not-for-profits to learn from (and ensure a community voice in) preparedness for, response to and recovery from disasters.