Bushfire support services and the need for evaluation: the 2013 Blue Mountains experience

Jane Rich; Angela Booth; Allison Rowlands; Prasuna Reddy

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Bushfire support services and the need for evaluation: the 2013 Blue Mountains experience

Journal article

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Bushfire support services and the need for evaluation: the 2013 Blue Mountains experience

Jane Rich, Angela Booth, Allison Rowlands and Prasuna Reddy

Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Vol.31(1), pp.8-12

2016

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Abstract

Clinical Sciences

Policy and Administration

Communication and Media Studies

In 2013, the Blue Mountains region of NSW experienced devastating bushfires. In response, the Step By Step Blue Mountains Bushfire Support Service was established by the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services and a local Blue Mountains service, Gateway Family Support. The service was to support bushfire-affected community members through a strengths-based and solution-focused approach. This approach has been used in other support services but limited evidence exists on the effectiveness of its use in disaster recovery. The integration of research in the early stages of disaster recovery service design may prove a valuable way to support the work of governments and service delivery organisations and is an important aspect of disaster preparedness and community wellbeing. This paper highlights the vulnerability of the Blue Mountains region to bushfire and examines the 2013 response by the Ministry for Police and Emergency Services Disaster Welfare Service (DWS) in association with Gateway Family Services. The DWS and Gateway Family Services collaborated to implement the service. This paper concludes that support services should be flexible in their response to dealing with those recovering from traumatic experiences such as bushfires. It demonstrates that evaluation of existing disaster support programs could better inform future disaster responses and services to assist communities to better cope and rebuild their lives.

Details

Title: Bushfire support services and the need for evaluation: the 2013 Blue Mountains experience
Authors: Jane Rich (Author) - University of Newcastle
Angela Booth (Author) - University of Newcastle
Allison Rowlands (Author) - University of Newcastle
Prasuna Reddy (Author) - University of Newcastle
Publication details: Australian Journal of Emergency Management, Vol.31(1), pp.8-12
Publisher: Emergency Management Australia
Date published: 2016
ISSN: 1324-1540
Copyright note: Copyright © 2016 The Authors. This article is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450914302621
Output Type: Journal article

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