When record-breaking floods devastated the NSW Mid North Coast in May 2025, something remarkable happened. More than 1,200 ordinary people stepped up to help their neighbors, and for the first time, the State Emergency Service welcomed them with open arms, safety gear, and official support.

The partnership between the NSW SES and the MidCoast Community Flood Response represents a beautiful evolution in disaster response. Instead of turning away eager volunteers, the SES provided training, protective equipment, and insurance coverage, transforming spontaneous compassion into organized, effective action. These "volunteers for a day" worked alongside trained SES members to clear mud and debris from flooded homes, bringing hope to devastated communities.

Sophie Curtis was one of seven friends who founded the MidCoast Community Flood Response. Watching her community come together moved her so deeply that she joined SES Forster-Pacific Palms as a permanent member. "It was truly incredible seeing them really come together. They gave us so much spirit," she said, her words capturing the emotional power of collective action.

The inspiration for this innovative approach came from halfway around the world. NSW SES executive Andrew McCullough traveled to Japan, Turkey, Chile, and other disaster sites on a 2024 Churchill Fellowship, studying how communities mobilize during crises. He was particularly impressed by Japan's social welfare councils, which coordinate volunteer efforts at disaster sites with remarkable efficiency and safety.

"We see New South Wales as a state of six million people where almost everyone could be a disaster volunteer in the future," McCullough said, painting an inspiring vision of a truly resilient society.

The Ripple Effect

The impact of this approach extends far beyond the immediate cleanup efforts. Commissioner Mike Wassing reported an extraordinary 500 applications for permanent SES membership following the floods, a testament to how empowering people to help creates lasting engagement. Research shows that local volunteers involved in disaster response and recovery experience better mental health outcomes and recover more quickly themselves, creating a virtuous cycle of community resilience.

Dr. Blythe McLennan from the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience celebrates this shift, noting that volunteering isn't declining but evolving. "What I love about the example in Taree is how it's brought together the strengths of the SES and the community mobilisation to create a more effective response for communities," she explained. "It's a surge capability for the SES."

This model recognizes a fundamental truth about human nature: people want to help when disaster strikes. By creating safe, organized ways for spontaneous volunteers to contribute, the NSW SES is harnessing the incredible power of community compassion. Social media connections that might have led to well-meaning but chaotic efforts now channel into coordinated action that truly serves those in need.

As climate change brings increasing natural disasters, this partnership between official responders and community mud armies offers a blueprint for the future. It proves that by working together and trusting in people's generous impulses, we can build more resilient, connected communities ready to face whatever challenges come their way.