About community recovery
Disaster recovery services assist individuals in the affected community.The Department of Communities has lead agency responsibility for the coordination of community recovery efforts. This includes the provision of short term, medium term and longer term recovery strategies and services.
Initially, this is provided through activities such as care and comfort, personal support, counselling, mental health services, personal hardship grants, case management and temporary accommodation arrangements.
In the medium to longer term, it can include ongoing psychological services, community engagement and development, and the re-establishment of social and cultural activities, systems and structures, networks and services. Support may also be provided to assist disaster affected people in the demolition and reconstruction of their homes.
The services available to assist disaster-affected individuals in the community may include:
Personal support services
Individually, people need information about the cause and effect of the disaster event, the availability and accessibility of services and a capacity to regain control. Some of these services may include practical advice, support, child minding, transport, the provision of an interpreter service, help with cleaning up and other practical assistance.
Personal support can also extend to financial assistance for individual or family applicants who may be able to access an emergency payment following a disaster event. Personal support can also include the provision of emergency and longer-term accommodation services.
Community engagement and development services
Following a disaster event, affected communities are supported to recover effectively. Community participation in the redevelopment of social networks and community infrastructure is encouraged and supported. Activities may include practical assistance, the organisation of public forums or discussion groups, and the development of community activities.
Last updated: 23 June 2008.