Bushfire RecoverySocial, Health and Wellbeing

Australian Psychological Society 14 February 2013

Carole OwenState Operations Manager Bushfire Recovery DHHS

Social Recovery• Lessons from the Victorian experience – “Community Led”• Organised Rob Gordon, Clinical Psychologist – in what to

expect.• 1st level: responding to immediate needs:

– Accommodation, food, clothing, financial assistance• 2nd level: reaching out / ‘being there’

– Registration, information, personal support, referral• 3rd level: providing longer term assistance:

– Specialist support, counselling• Outreach Program – co-ordinated by Red Cross• Leadership for all of the above, provided by experienced team

of Community Health Social Workers.• Use existing service providers,

known to the community.

Red Cross + Social Work - Outreach

Date Houses Visited At Home Non-habitable Suburbs Visited

13-Jan 17 10 2 Dunalley14-Jan 91 54 7 Dunalley, Murdunna

15-Jan 43 21 2 Dunalley, Murdunna, Eaglehawk Neck, Dootown

16-Jan 54 29 0 Eaglehawk Neck17-Jan 30 23 0 Dunalley, Copping18-Jan 43 24 1 Copping, Kellevie19-Jan 35 23 1 Dunalley, Kellevie, Nugent

20-Jan 50 26 3 Bream Creek, Dunalley, Kellevie, Nugent

21-Jan 39 22 1 Bream Creek, Kellevie, Nugent

22-Jan 126 51 1Bream Creek, Carlton Rivulet, Connellys Marsh, Copping, Forcett, Murdunna, Primrose Sands

23-Jan 83 28 2 Murdunna, Primrose Sands24-Jan 213 52 5 Murdunna, Primrose Sands25-Jan 160 42 0 Murdunna, Primrose Sands26-Jan 62 21 2 Murdunna, Primrose Sands28-Jan 36 19 3 Murdunna, Primrose Sands29-Jan 90 20 7 Murdunna, Primrose Sands30-Jan 47 12 8 Murdunna, Primrose SandsTotals 1291 477 45

• active referrals and follow up•Present at Australia Day long weekend celebrations

Immediate / Basic Needs

Coming to Terms

Reality Sets In Going Forward

• Food

• Water

• Shelter

• Shock – personal support

• Concern for others

• Loss – home, shack, tools, jobs, car / transport

• Money

• Insurance

• Clean up

• Gardens / Fencing

• Someone to listen

• How do I rebuild my life?

• Housing options

• Financial circumstances

• Tired, stress, anxiety, coping

• Relationship pressures

• Getting back to routines

• Worried about neighbours

• Support for front line workers

• Kids (incl parents) going back to school

• Vulnerable groups – Mental Health, Disability, Aged

• Not coping, isolated

Expressed Needs - Sorell / Tasman

Our Approach• Must be community led.• Recognise needs will change over time.• Utilise the specialist expertise of existing Community Health

Social Workers. • Already been told – “too many people knocking on our

doors, give us some space”. This might signal a shift from ‘appreciation to frustration / annoyance’

• Sensitive to this – may not be everyone – may be a vocal few.

• Who is not participating? • Be mindful of particular groups – aged, isolated, living alone,

pre-existing health concerns, those whose properties are ok.• Have a presence, build trust,

be flexible and responsive.

Current Focus• Stopped outreach activity for now.• Social workers are following up on referrals.• Ongoing presence at service hubs:

– Nubeena/MPC, Murdunna, Dunalley, Sorell– Providing information, personal support and referral

• Support local community reps and local community groups– Graham Millar – Murdunna , Caroline Bigwell – Boomers Bay– Fiona Jennings – Dunalley, Yve Earnshaw - Neighbourhood House– Back to School, working with Education support staff (social workers and

psychologists)– Community development activities as they emerge – e.g. garden restoration– Local BBQs

• Strengthen the existing service provider network – use this to identify emerging needs and co-ordinate services.

• Information session with NGO’s Friday 1 February

Current Focus con’t• Developing referral pathways to secondary and specialist

services - MH, Drug and Alcohol, Domestic Violence, Lifeline• Aware of those who are not on the Peninsula:

– Who have we missed? – People staying with friends / family / new rental?– Tourists / visitors who were traumatised?

• Revisiting other affected areas – Derwent Valley, Bicheno• Implement information system for planning and reporting –

“Major Incident Support System (MISS)”• Assist with the co-ordination of volunteers, St Vincent de Paul

distribution of donated goods. 350 pallets – just in the South!• 2nd Visit Rob Gordon

– General Information session, and front line workers

Social Recovery Plan – under developmentObjective 1

Local communities lead their own recovery from the impact of the bushfires.Objective 2

Health and personal support services are available.Objective 3

The community is strengthened by the recovery process.Objective 4

The social recovery plan is linked with other recovery plans for the affected communities.

Objective 5Reporting and evaluation

Where are we at?• “Emergency Mode” persists till threat is reduced, life

stabilises, immediate problems are solved. 2-6 months• “Endurance Mode” till stress subsides, plans are made,

routines established, reserves are replenished. 9-18 months• Signs of Stress:

o Become active, focussed, self-sufficient, impatient, grim, intoleranto Reduced reasoning, struggle to make strategic decisions, prioritise,

make long term gaols, lateral thinking,o Emotional life is raw, intense, giving out a lot or just coping rather

than feeling enriched or satisfied, needs are greater than supplieso Social life simplified, neglected, reduced empathy, intolerance,

intense involvement because of how feelingo Loss of self reflection, experiences not “owned”

• Amazing strength, support and resilience