In February 2025, North and Far North Queensland experienced extended intense rainfall, which resulted in devastating flooding. Many households were forced to evacuate, electricity outages were widespread, many roads were cut, and there was extensive damage to businesses and public infrastructure.
A number of local government areas (LGAs) were impacted, with the communities of Ingham, Cardwell and Townsville particularly affected. Hundreds of homes were inundated, and people and families impacted faced the daunting task of repairing their damaged homes and replacing their possession.
How your generosity is making an impact
In early February, GIVIT was activated by the Queensland Government to set up an appeal for donations. Communications then went out about GIVITs role in recovery, encouraging responsible giving through the GIVIT platform. This helped ensure only requested items would enter impact regions, to enable a genuinely helpful response for residents in their immediate recovery. Our big-hearted community of donors and supporters was extremely generous, which enabled us to mobilise quickly, providing more than 1,500 essential goods and services in the first three weeks following the flood event.
Wherever possible, GIVIT purchases essential goods and services locally to support the economic recovery of disaster-impacted communities. Early in recovery, GIVIT established a strong working relationship with the Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism to help us understand local business impact and availability to inform our purchasing. As a result, we directly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars at businesses operating across Ingham, Cardwell, Tully, Ayr and Townsville to help boost local recovery efforts.
GIVIT's Christina and Temiah with Premier David Crisafulli. The Queensland Government donated $500,000 towards flood recovery.
Impact snapshot
GIVIT QLD Manager Nick with Hinchinbrook Shire Council Deputy Mayor Councillor Mary Brown and council Community Recovery Officer Jane.
Keeping the elements out
A brave single mum caring for her three children and her elderly father had been recovering after their possessions were destroyed by mould caused by the floodwaters.
Their overgrown yard was attracting snakes and vermin, and their back door wasn’t functioning due to flood damage, leaving their home open to critters, the weather and more mould.
Thanks to generous donors, GIVIT covered the cost of a new door and garden maintenance to help this family get back on their feet.
Helping a brave mum start over
Thanks to the generosity of GIVIT donors a young family, reeling from the floods and preparing to welcome a second baby, received the support they desperately needed.
With their belongings destroyed and finances stretched thin, GIVIT provided appliances, whitegoods, furniture, baby items and clothing lifting an enormous weight from their shoulders. These essentials helped them rebuild a safe, stable home for their toddler and their soon‑to‑arrive newborn.
GIVIT Founder Juliette Wright visiting NOTCH with Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC
Community recovery through collaboration
Neighbourhood centres like North Townsville Community Hub (NOTCH) play a vital role in supporting their community to recover, and GIVIT’s generous donor community helped NOTCH provide essential items that kept their food and emergency relief programs running. As recovery progressed, GIVIT also provide flood-impacted families with furniture, appliances and whitegoods as they moved back into their new homes.
GIVIT founder Juliette Wright OAM joined Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia, for morning tea at NOTCH to see firsthand the impact of this generous support, and reflect on the recovery journey in the region.
Here are some of the thank messages shared by donation recipients:
- “Our family couldn’t have survived without this.”
- “The support I got was bloody good and beyond my imagination.”
- “The vouchers for furniture were a lifesaver and have helped immensely.”
- “So grateful to receive this life-changing support.”
What goes around, comes around
Thanks to the generosity of our donors and corporate supporters, GIVIT provided Ingham State High School with scientific calculators and other stationery items to help them return to learning after the floods.
Through the school, GIVIT also provided beds and mattresses to several students whose homes were flooded.
Later in the year, these incredible students ran a Relay for Resilience, collectively running 3,081 laps of their school oval - that’s 1,232kms.
They raised nearly $3,000, which they chose to donate back to GIVIT to help others in need.
Thank you from a grateful recipient
“I never imagined I’d be standing in the ruins of my rental home, watching years of memories float down the street. The 2025 Ingham floods took more than just things - they shook our sense of safety and normality. When the waters receded, I was left with a kitchen full of mud, a fridge that wouldn’t close, and a washing machine that wouldn’t spin and furniture damaged. I felt overwhelmed and honestly didn’t know where to begin.
Then someone told me about GIVIT. I reached out, thinking maybe they could help - but I had no idea just how much of a difference that support would make. Within weeks, I received vouchers that covered essential white goods I desperately needed. I replaced my fridge, my washing machine, my dryer, my bed, and even got a microwave so I could cook once again.
We were evacuated and had to then move to Townsville until our home was repaired, in which saw us move back in early December.
Those vouchers didn’t just replace broken appliances - they helped rebuild our day-to-day life. Being able to open a fridge full of food and wash clothes for the first time in weeks brought back a sense of normal I didn’t think I’d feel again so soon.
Thank you, GIVIT, for helping us get back on our feet. Your support came at a time when we needed it the most - and we’re so grateful.”
Donate goods & services to people impacted by the North and Far North Queensland floods
Here are some of the real items urgently needed right now by people impacted by the North and Far North Queensland floods
