Release of Southern B ushfire Impact Report and Resources (1/5/20)
Community Industry Group is pleased to announce that it has today released a report outlining the impacts of
the 2019/20 bushfires on community organisations, and on vulnerable individuals, families, and communities
in South East NSW ; as well as two video resources highlighting the issues and responses for aged services
provider s, and the impact of trauma.
” Throughout the bushfire crisis and beyond, community service organisations have been on the ground
providing support to affected individuals, families and communities,” said Community Industry Group CEO.
Nicky Sloan. ” From aler t to evacuation to post -fire recovery, providers across a range of sectors including aged
care, disability, child and family, homelessness and more have witnessed and experienced first- hand the
successes and challenges of disaster recovery. ”
As the regiona l peak body for these services, Community Industry Group has met with service providers to
gain insight into what worked well, what didn’t work, and what learnings can be implemented to improve
outcomes for future disasters.
“The report we have produced de scribes the overall impact of the bushfire crisis, as well as the recovery and
response processes that took place an d/or are currently taking place,” Ms Sloan added. ” Importantly, it also
documents some of the personal reflections and stories of the people working to support individuals, families
and communities impacted by bushfire – either directly or indirectly. ”
The report, which can be found here
also includes r ecommendations for immediate and future actions. It will
be shared widely with recovery leaders and practitioners, with key g overnment departments and
representatives, and with the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements.
Along with the report, Community Industry Group are also releasing two video resources both are available
from the Community Industry Group website or through the Group’s Youtube
channel.
• A Webi nar titled Trauma after a Bushfire which has been created to help individuals, families and
service providers understand how to support someone through a traumatic event, like a bushfire.
• Aged Care in a Bushfire, a video developed in partnership with the Seniors Rights Service, which
documents the experience and learning of aged services providers across Eurobodalla and the Bega
Valley.
“The Trauma after a Bushfire webinar has been developed by our mental health trainer,” Ms Sloan said, “it
offers simple and practical strategies to support someone who has been through the recent bushfires, and
also helps family members, friends, and service providers to identify if someone is struggling as a result of the
experience.”
The webinar, which has been designed to be a quick and easily understood resource is available free of charge
and also include useful phone numbers and websites to access further support.
Finally, the Aged Care in a Bushfire video captures the experiences of leaders and staff members of several
aged services providers who worked to protect and support older people through the 2019/20 bushfires.
“We have been delighted to partner with Seniors Rights Service to produce this resource,” Ms Sloan said. “It
really demonstrates the heroic efforts of aged service providers in supporting older people at times of crisis.”
” Particularly in these times, it’ s very affirming to be able to demonstrate the way that aged care providers rise
to a crisis,” added Margaret Crothers, Seniors Rights Service South Coast Advocate. “We want to recognise
that, while we have highlighted a few providers, organisations up and down the coast responded equally well.
We would like to recognise the contribution all aged service providers made, and continue to make, at this
difficult time. ”
