Red Cross Victorian Bushfires From Emergency to Recovery

Red CrossVictorian Bushfires

From Emergency to Recovery

• Australia’s largest humanitarian disaster

• Approx. 7,500 people displaced

• 189 fatalities (likely to be much higher)

• 1834 homes destroyed

• 14962 have registered safe with Red Cross

Current situation

• Auxiliary to government• National Registration & Inquiry Service (NRIS);

Telecross• Emergency relief (catering, first aid, personal

support, volunteers)• Public Appeal (coordination and support)

• > $102M raised• panel established, funds being disbursed

Red Cross

• Rebuilding communities and lives – immediate, medium and long term;

• Communities – impact of evacuation, physical damage, personal loss and needs, economic and financial loss;

• On going disruption during recovery and rebuilding process

Recovery

• Range of community recovery services

• Information

• Community and personal support

• Psychological

• Community development and resources

• Type, range and quantum of services dependent on the particular needs of individuals and communities

What’s needed

• Need for on-going accurate, credible information (services – whats available, where and how to access them)

• lower anxiety and restore sense of predictability

• Critical times (6 weeks, 6 months, anniversary)

• must be available to whole affected areas, NESB, isolated people, secondary victims

Information Services

• Provided on one-to-one • Case management approach (Centrelink/DHS)• Red Cross Personal support & outreach

•Telecross•Save a Mate•Talk out Loud•Breakfast Clubs•Mental health first aid

Personal Support

• to create and support community recovery

•Community needs assessments

•Community engagement and participation

•Public forums, activities

•Cultural and spiritual

Community Support

• Facilitate and support consultation and engagement processes;

• Experienced, specialised Community development practitioners;

• Community development recovery projects;

Red Cross Community Services