Accessing support

Accessing support for families and Individuals.

In Australia, the National Bushfire Recovery Agency offers support for individuals and families affected by bushfires by providing support through:

• Disaster recovery payment
• Disaster recovery allowance
• Support for carers
• Debt recovery (repayment pauses)
• Mental health support
• Emergency relief through charities

Other services include support for job seekers; financial counselling; health advice; back to school early education and care assistance.

Non-Governmental Organisations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul and Lifeline amongst others offer assistance in relief and recovery. All of these services assist with the reduction of the impact of Bushfires on affected individuals and families.

Accessing Support: Mental health

People affected by bushfires can seek immediate counselling sessions through mental health services commissioned by local primary health networks. Mental health support services can be made available through the following:

• General Practitioners (GPs)
• Psychologists
• Occupational therapists
• Social workers

Emergency services personnel can also face trauma and can access informed care and psychological first aid which can be provided by health professionals and organisations that manage frontline emergency staff which also include firefighters.

Let’s discuss

What other forms of support might a person directly affected by a natural disaster need?