A new chapter has begun for Rekindling the Spirit following the opening of its purpose-built Wellbeing Centre in Lismore, NSW, delivered by Alder.
The new facility at 25 Uralba Street provides a dedicated, flood-resilient home for essential health, wellbeing, counselling and community services following the loss of Rekindling the Spirit’s Woodlark Street premises during the 2022 floods.
For Alder, reaching completion marks an important milestone in a project where the outcome extends well beyond the built environment, supporting Rekindling the Spirit’s continued work with families and communities across the Northern Rivers.
Creating a Place for Culture, Connection and Care
The two-level facility has been designed around the way Rekindling the Spirit delivers its services, bringing together consultation spaces for counselling and allied health, a dedicated Yarning Circle and shared areas for information exchange, support and connection.
From the outset, cultural identity has also played an important role in the project’s design and delivery.
A distinctive perforated façade maintains views towards the Bora Ring at Lismore Showgrounds, while artwork curated by Widjabul Wia-Bal artists helps embed local culture and stories within the facility.
The result is a building that responds not only to the functional requirements of a contemporary health and wellbeing service, but also to the cultural significance of the place and the community it serves.
Collaboration at the Heart of Delivery
When construction commenced in October 2025, Alder CEO – Constructions Dean Cheffers described the project as being about more than bricks and mortar, highlighting the team’s responsibility to deliver the facility with cultural respect and in close collaboration with Rekindling the Spirit and the local community.
That collaborative approach continued throughout construction, bringing together Alder, Rekindling the Spirit, the project management team, architects, consultants, specialist trades and community stakeholders.
At the official opening, Rekindling the Spirit CEO Chris Binge recognised the expertise, collaboration and commitment of the project team, describing the finished facility as reflecting the Indigenous story, culture and legacy embedded within the building.
A Lasting Community Outcome
The completed centre restores a permanent home for services disrupted by the floods while creating a resilient, culturally safe environment designed to support health, wellbeing and connection into the future.
For Alder, we’re proud to have contributed our construction expertise to a project with such a strong connection to people, place and community.
We congratulate Rekindling the Spirit on the opening of its new home and thank the organisation, project partners, subcontractors and everyone involved for the trust, collaboration and commitment that brought this important facility to life.
