Steve Lawrence is the Community Engagement Coordinator for the NSW State Emergency Service Mid North Coast Region. Steve has been with the SES for 2 years and has a passion for working with communities using an assets based approach. This assets based approach has been a useful one in facilitating a shared sense of responsibility between the SES and communities for dealing with floods. After finding out that a career in the construction industry was not going to suit either him or his employer (Dad), Steve’s professional working life started with time as an outdoor education instructor, before he moved into youth work and then into local government. His roles in a 13 year career in with Port Macquarie-Hastings Council included youth development officer, community facilities coordinator and as the acting the manager of community development and libraries. His time at Council was interrupted with brief period as a health promotions officer with the North Coast Area Health Service.