Supporting Rural Australian Communities after Disaster: the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service

PLOS Currents: Disasters, Jun 2015

Aim: Natural disasters inflict significant trauma upon the individuals and communities in which they occur. In order to gain an understanding of the role of community-based disaster recovery support services in the post-disaster environment, we assessed the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service (BSCS) implemented in response to the January 2013 bushfires in the Warrumbungle Shire, New South Wales, Australia. Method: A mixed-methods approach was taken to explore the perspectives of former BSCS users and key stakeholders involved with the service. A survey was distributed to former services users (in both paper and online modalities) and included closed and open-ended questions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders (face to face or via telephone). Results: A total of 14 former BSCS users and six key stakeholders participated in the research. Almost half of the former service users had accessed the BSCS for more than six months. Regardless of the duration of their use of the service, most reported that the decision to use the service stemmed from the need for ‘help’. The majority of former service users were satisfied with the support provided by the BSCS and would recommend the service to others. Although most indicated that the BSCS informed them about where to get support, just over half were confident that they could access appropriate recovery services without the BSCS. Key themes arising from the former service use surveys were connectedness and support, whilst key themes in the interviews with key stakeholders were connectedness and the operation of the service. Both former service users and key stakeholders reported that the BSCS played an important role in facilitating community connectedness in the post-disaster period. Key stakeholders also identified challenges for the BSCS, including finding an appropriate agency and location to oversee the service and made suggestions about sustainability. Conclusion: On the whole, the BSCS was perceived by former service users and key stakeholders as acceptable and effective. To develop a better understanding of the role of community-based disaster recovery support services, there is a need for more timely, rigorous and representative evaluation of disaster support services like the BSCS. Recommendations are made for the planning and development of future disaster support services. Key words: bushfires, natural disaster, Australia, disaster recovery support service, rural and remote, communities

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Supporting Rural Australian Communities after Disaster: the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service

June Supporting Rural Australian Communities after Disaster: the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service PLOS Currents Disasters Aim: Natural disasters inflict significant trauma upon the individuals and communities in which they occur. In order to gain an understanding of the role of community-based disaster recovery support services in the post-disaster environment, we assessed the acceptability and perceived effectiveness of the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service (BSCS) implemented in response to the January 2013 bushfires in the Warrumbungle Shire, New South Wales, Australia. Method: A mixed-methods approach was taken to explore the perspectives of former BSCS users and key stakeholders involved with the service. A survey was distributed to former services users (in both paper and online modalities) and included closed and open-ended questions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders (face to face or via telephone). Results: A total of 14 former BSCS users and six key stakeholders participated in the research. Almost half of the former service users had accessed the BSCS for more than six months. Regardless of the duration of their use of the service, most reported that the decision to use the service stemmed from the need for 'help'. The majority of former service users were satisfied with the support provided by the BSCS and would recommend the service to others. Although most indicated that the BSCS informed them about where to get support, just over half were confident that they could access appropriate recovery services without the BSCS. Key themes arising from the former service use surveys were connectedness and support, whilst key themes in the interviews with key stakeholders were connectedness and the operation of the service. Both former service users and key stakeholders reported that the BSCS played an important role in facilitating community connectedness in the post-disaster period. Key stakeholders also identified challenges for the BSCS, including finding an appropriate agency and location to oversee the service and made suggestions about sustainability. Conclusion: On the whole, the BSCS was perceived by former service users and key stakeholders as acceptable and effective. To develop a better understanding of the role of community-based disaster recovery support services, there is a need for more timely, rigorous and representative evaluation of disaster support services like the BSCS. Recommendations are made for the planning and development of future disaster support services. Key words: bushfires, natural disaster, Australia, disaster recovery support service, rural and remote, communities PLOS Currents Disasters - The Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health (CRRMH) was commissioned by the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services (MPES) to conduct the evaluation of the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service (BSCS). The findings reported in this paper are a subset of those presented in the report for MPES. AR is employed by MPES and was involved in the initiation and implementation of the Warrumbungle BSCS, as well as the evaluation and paper writing. JC, JR, AB, LM, and PR were all employed by the CRRMH at the time of the evaluation. Australia experienced extreme heatwaves and record breaking temperatures over the 2012/2013 summer period (DecemberFebruary). Across the country, the average maximum temperatures were the highest on record1 with January 2013 being the hottest month recorded since 1972. This widespread heatwave created conditions conducive to catastrophic bushfires2. During these extreme conditions, on Sunday 13thJanuary 2013, the Wambelong Bushfire burnt out of control in the Warrumbungle National Park, in the State of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Situated in the Warrumbungle Shire approximately 5-6 hours north-west from the state capital of Sydney, the Warrumbungle National Park and Siding Spring Observatory have been popular tourist destinations 3. The Warrumbungle Shire has a population of 9832 people 4 and encompasses the surrounding towns of Coonabarabran, Coolah, Dunedoo, Mendooran, Baradine and Binnaway3. The Wambelong Bushfire continued to burn for more than a week, threatening the Warrumbungle communities and their attractions, before it was finally contained on Monday 21stJanuary 5. By the time the bushfire was brought under control it had destroyed more than 53,000 hectares of land, 51 homes and 113 outbuildings, livestock and farm machinery6, as well as causing significant damage to the Warrumbungle National Park and the Siding Spring Observatory infrastructure. It is well documented that natural disasters inflict significant trauma upon communities. Individuals living in affected areas may face major personal and community wide challenges throughout the recovery process7. Recognising that the recovering community may require support to manage challenges arising from the January 2013 (...truncated)


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Jacqueline Coombe, Jane Rich, Angela Booth, Allison Rowlands, Lisa Mackenzie, Prasuna Reddy. Supporting Rural Australian Communities after Disaster: the Warrumbungle Bushfire Support Coordination Service, PLOS Currents: Disasters, 2015, DOI: 10.1371/currents.dis.6a4ee241c389755ad6f6f1c8688c0fb5