Dear Sir/Madam,

Hello to all,

Our thoughts go out to members living in areas that have been recently affected by bushfires, cyclones and storms. We wish you all the best in the clean up and recovery. 

We have been working with the local APS branches to support their recovery in a number of different ways. Below you will see some initiatives that are happening in South Australia following the Adelaide Hills fires, and in the Northern Territory following Cyclone Lam.  We are also in close contact with the APS Branches in areas affected by Cyclone Marcia. Lots of extreme weather disruption around the country!

Regards,

Dr Susie Burke
Public Interest, Environment and Disaster Response

The Red Cross have been sending out personal support teams to be with people around the communities affected by Cyclone Lam in the Northern Territory, Galiwinku, Gapuwiak, Millingimbi and Ramingining. Many homes on these islands are uninhabitable, and people's lives have been quite disrupted by the worst storm that many in the area have ever experienced.

The Red Cross have contacted the APS to ask for some DRN volunteers to help with independent debriefing.  This is a role that we have done for the Red Cross in previous years.
The main purpose for the independent debriefing is to ensure people’s wellbeing is checked when they have returned to their normal life after an emergency activation.
Debriefers will:
• Make phone contact with individuals who have been deployed in Red Cross emergency services operation to provide assistance independent of incident management team, supervisors and Red Cross management
• Check on how people are going since their role with the Red Cross
• Discuss issues of concern and outcomes being sought.

To register your interest in being a DRN volunteer to do some telephone independent debriefing for the Red Cross please email us at drn@psychology.org.au and write 'independent debriefing' in the subject line.

Australian Red Cross and the APS are partnering to run a disaster support group workshop for mental health professionals with experience in running groups, who also have experience in disaster recovery or other areas of traumatic stress or grief. Following the workshop, the Red Cross is planning to offer support groups to communities in the Adelaide Hills fire-affected regions, but also will consider doing so for any future disasters.

After the workshop we may ask you to volunteer time to facilitate monthly support groups of 1 to 2 hours as part of Red Cross Psychosocial Recovery programs.  Groups might involve travel to rural communities and may need to be in the evening, and could last for more than a year. 

The Adelaide workshop will take place on Thursday April 2nd, from 9am to 1pm at the Adelaide Red Cross office,
212 Pirie Street, Adelaide. It will be facilitated by Dr Rob Gordon.

If you think you would be suitable and can commit to conducting support groups following a disaster, please email us at drn@psychology.org.au by Tuesday March 24th, including an up-to-date CV. Please write 'support group training' in the subject line. 

The Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) conducts nationally recognised education training and professional development programs. The course schedule below lists all the training and courses available at AEMI. Additional dates for the next financial year will be added to this schedule as they are confirmed. It should be noted that the schedule is flexible, and may be adapted to suit demand and operational needs.

http://www.em.gov.au/Education/Courses/Pages/Courseschedule.aspx#accredited

The ACATLGN network has put together a list of training and conferences in 2015 that are trauma and child related and put them all in the one spot for you.

Go to their Training and Conferences page and find out what is happening in your location.

DRN members who are interested in the links between disasters and climate change, are welcome to register their interest here to receive regular newsletters from the Public Interest Team about climate change, psychology and health.

https://confirmsubscription.com/h/r/5266FE38A0D5979F