Three people are dead after being caught in the rising floods and the waters were expected to peak last night in Brisbane and Ipswich.
Bundaberg and Lockyer Valley are some of the worst hit areas and now Sydney is preparing for a battering of gale winds and torrential rain. Thousands are battling rising flood waters in Brisbane.
Around 140,000 Māori live in Australia with 30,000 in the city of Brisbane alone. Many of them experienced the severe floods in the area in 2011.
Marama Rawiri, Secretary of the Queensland Māori Society says many of those families had only just got back on their feet and now the possibility was looming that it could happen all over again.
Locals are preparing for the worst as floods are expected to continue peaking heights of at least 15 metres. However Mrs Rawiri says at least this time people are more prepared and can guess what to expect in terms of managing through the disaster and dealing with the aftermath.
To assist in rescue efforts the army has joined forces with rescue services and Mrs Rawiri says a lot of families are already in need of clothes, food and water.
Thousands of Brisbane and Ipswich residents will face days of uncertainty with unruly weather but many say they are focusing on taking care of their families and ensuring their homes are secured as best as they possibly can be.
Cyclone Oswald has left at 58,000 homes without power in its wake.