Bushfires
Community information
Learn about preparing for bushfire
Don't panic: Be prepared
Helpful tips for being psychologically prepared as you get ready for the bushfire season.
Preparing children for the threat of bushfire: Information for parents and carers
This brochure provides ways of assisting parents and carers to help children manage their fears and to have a greater sense of being in control in threatening bushfire situations.
Psychological preparation for natural disasters
This APS tip sheet outlines the importance of being psychologically prepared and provides the steps to take for psychological preparation when a natural disaster is threatening.
Recovery
Looking after children who have been affected by bushfires: Guidelines for parents and caregivers
Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults. It is therefore very important to look out for changes in children's behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressed.
Understanding and managing psychological trauma
This APS tip sheet outlines the symptoms of psychological trauma and provides tips on how to manage it.
Seeking further help
A qualified mental health professional such as a psychologist can help you to understand and deal with the thoughts, feelings and behaviours associated with the trauma of the bushfires. Speak to your GP about a referral to a psychologist or phone the APS Find a Psychologist service on 1800 333 497. Alternatively, you can locate a psychologist in your area by visiting the APS Find a Psychologist website.
Additional resources for the community
Bushfire information package for women
Women's Health Victoria has put together a women's health information package and other resources to assist in the initial and ongoing stages of recovery for those affected by the Victorian bushfires and other disaster situations.
Red Cross resources for children
Includes Get ready! and After the emergency booklets
Preparedness and disaster planning
Resources from the Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN).
Tips for recovering from disasters and other traumatic events
Tips from the American Psychological Association (APA).
Information for practitioners
APS guidelines and resources
APS Disaster Response Network (DRN)
The APS Disaster Response Network (DRN) is a national network of psychologists who have a special interest and expertise in working with individuals and communities affected by disasters and emergencies in Australia as well as those working to assist them.
Psychosocial Support in Disasters web portal
This web portal provides health professionals working with disaster-affected individuals and communities with a step-by-step guide to disaster response and the psychological implications at each stage from preparation through to response and recovery.
Psychological First Aid: An Australian Guide (2011) - APS and ARC joint publication
This guide was produced by the APS and the Australian Red Cross to provide an overview for people working in disaster preparedness, response and recovery about best-practice in psychological first aid following disasters and traumatic events.
- Psychological First Aid: An Australian Guide
- Psychological First Aid: An Australian Guide - Translated into Japanese
APS Ethical Guidelines on co-ordinated disaster response, pro bono, or voluntary psychological services
APS Statement on the Role of Psychologists in International Emergencies
APS tip sheets
APS tip sheets inform clients about a range of psychological issues and how psychologists can help. They are a useful resource for private practitioners and other health professionals, especially GPs. The following tip sheets have been developed to assist individuals and communities affected by natural disasters.
Looking after children who have been affected by bushfires: Guidelines for parents and caregivers
Children are not always able to express complex feelings in the same direct way that adults do and therefore do not often show the same reactions to stress as adults. It is therefore very important to look out for changes in children's behaviour that suggest they are unsettled or distressed.
Guidelines for provision of psychological support to people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires
This information sheet provides summary guidelines on the three levels of psychological support that can be offered to people affected by disasters such as the Victorian bushfires.
- Guidelines for provision of psychological support to people affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires
Additional resources for practitioners
Psychological First Aid: Field Operations Guide
Developed by the National Center for PTSD, PFA is an evidence-informed modular approach for assisting people in the immediate aftermath of disaster and terrorism: to reduce initial distress, and to foster short and long-term adaptive functioning.
Mental health and primary care resources
Developed by the Australian Child & Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN, these guidelines were designed to assist general practitioners and health professionals working in primary care after the disaster of the Victorian bushfires. There are relevant to other natural disasters where there is where people are exposed to life-threatening stressors and losses.
Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Adults with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
The Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health developed these guidelines in consultation with trauma experts from a range of disciplines, as well as people affected by trauma. These guidelines provide practical recommendations applicable in all healthcare settings.
- Australian Guidelines for the Treatment of Adults with Acute Stress Disorder and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- PTSD Clinical Treatment Algorithm
IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
The Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC ) issues these guidelines to enable humanitarian actors to plan, establish and coordinate a set of minimum multi-sectoral responses to protect and improve people's mental health and psychosocial wellbeing in the midst of an emergency.
- IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings
- Checklist for field use
General references
Compiled list of general articles on response and recovery
McNally, R.J., Bryant, R.A., Ehlers, A. (2003). Does early psychological intervention promote recovery from posttraumatic stress? Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 4, 2, 45-79.
APS media, publications and responses
Presentations
Black Saturday Bushfire Disaster Recovery Briefing March 2009
A briefing was held on Tuesday 3 March 2009, for psychologists and other allied health professionals interested in the Victorian bushfire disaster response. The briefing was presented by members of the APS Disaster Preparedness and Response Reference Group, and other experts in disaster response and psychological recovery.
An audio file of the briefing can be downloaded below in either MP3 or WMA format. If the audio file does not play immediately, right-click on link and select "Save Target As ..." to save file to your computer.
The presentations from the briefing can be downloaded below:
- Professor Richard Bryant, Scientia Professor in the School of Psychology at the University of New South Wales
View presentation
- Professor Mark Creamer, Director of the Australian Centre for Post-Traumatic Mental Health
View presentation - Dr Rob Gordon, Consultant Psychologist to the Victorian Emergency Recovery Plan and to Red Cross
View presentation - Mr Andrew Coghlan, National Manager, Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross
View presentation
APS media releases
January 2013
November 2012
October 2011
October 2010
- New website to help combat trauma of natural disasters
- New techniques assist psychological recovery for disaster survivors
April 2010
February 2010
December 2009
October 2009
- Preparing psychologically for bushfires: Resources for the public
- Preparing psychologically for bushfires - updated resources for the public
September 2009
March 2009
- Australian Psychological Society - Bushfire Briefing, Tuesday 3 March
- Psychological preparedness can save lives during bushfires
- Resources for bushfire victims and those working to assist them
- Immediate support strategies for bushfire survivors
- Fire disasters cause psychological stress
InPsych articles
2011
2010
2009
Special report - Recovery after trauma: The aftermath of the Victorian bushfires
- Introduction
Professor Bob Montgomery - The impact of natural disasters on mental health
Professor Richard Bryant - Psychological support and treatment for victims of Victoria's bushfires
Associate Professor David Forbes and Professor Mark Creamer - Community impact of disaster and community recovery
Dr Rob Gordon - The crucial role of psychological preparedness for disasters
Associate Professor Joseph Reser and Dr Shirley Morrissey - Shedding light on the unfathomable: The psychology of
firesetting in the wake of Victoria's bushfires
Professor James Ogloff - APS contribution to the bushfire disaster recovery
- Psychologists' experiences in disaster responses
