Living Lab Northern Rivers - Southern Cross University

Where research and community come together for a thriving Northern Rivers.

Born from the chaos of the 2022 floods, Living Lab Northern Rivers brings locals and experts together to develop solutions and knowledge in response to climate disasters.

Our founding partners are Southern Cross University and University of Technology Sydney and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

By operating in the crucial space between community, industry, academia, and government, we're proving that a different model is possible – one that brings world-class expertise and local knowledge together to drive real change.

We use our lived experience of disaster recovery, adaptation and systems change, together with our expertise, to build community-centred resilience.

As locals, we are deeply embedded in the Northern Rivers community. We know its strengths, its challenges, and its potential. But we’re also much more than just our staff. We’re building a community of researchers and collaborators from a broad range of disciplines and regions to drive climate-resilient development in the Northern Rivers.

We’re demonstrating how regions can build resilience differently, creating a model with implications far beyond the Northern Rivers.

Learn more about the Living Lab Northern Rivers or find us on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn.