Disaster relief and community recovery

In the wake of a crisis or natural disaster in Queensland, Lifeline is there to help people deal with trauma and cope with grief and loss.

At the request of authorities, the Lifeline Community Recovery team will visit a community to provide counselling and ‘psychological first-aid’ in the weeks and months after bushfires, floods, drought, cyclones, pandemics and tragedy. We support people as they work through shock and begin to come to grips with their experiences.

This process takes time. We often continue to support communities in the years following a crisis. For anyone who requires ongoing support, we will put them in touch with the right services to ensure they get the help they need.

People we support

We engage and support people who are directly and indirectly affected by an event. This includes:

  • Extended families.
  • Business operators.
  • People from support organisations who have experienced vicarious trauma.

The Community Recovery team

The Community Recovery team has been supporting Queensland communities since the Townsville Black Hawk helicopter disaster in 1996. We continue to respond through our trained staff and network of services across the state.

You will be supported by professionals from a range of fields, including, social work, psychology, counselling, psychotherapy, specialist volunteers. We also develop relationships with local partner agencies and local governments who manage evacuation centres during events to ensure we provide co-ordinated community support services.

Team activation

The Community Recovery team is activated at the request of state or local government authorities, or local community leaders after such events as:

  • Floods.
  • Cyclones.
  • Bushfires.
  • Acts of terrorism.
  • Major health emergencies.
  • Road accidents.
  • Other community crises.

Become a Community Recovery volunteer

If you’d like to get involved in Community Recovery work, the first step is to complete our Lifeline Crisis Supporter training.

In this video, Matt from Lifeline Queensland discusses how Lifeline Community Recovery supports those in need.

Matt from Lifeline Queensland discusses how Lifeline Community Recovery supports those in need.

Get Ready Queensland

When it comes to extreme weather events in Queensland, it's not a matter of 'if' but 'when'.

Resources

The following resources provide practical information on how to prepare for and cope with the effects and experiences brought on by crisis or natural disasters.

General information

  • Community Recovery Brochure
    485.9 KB
    Download pdf

Toolkits and factsheets

  • Coping with loss and change in a community after a bushfire
    1015.39 KB
    Download pdf
  • Coping with loss and grief
    498.67 KB
    Download pdf
  • Coping with sorrow loss and grief for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
    1.05 MB
    Download pdf
  • Dealing with trauma
    45.56 KB
    Download pdf
  • Drought tool kit
    748.37 KB
    Download pdf
  • Getting through floods drought and extreme climate events
    678.77 KB
    Download pdf
  • Helping your children cope with the after effects of a natural disaster
    238.17 KB
    Download pdf
  • A whole person approach to wellbeing
    299.5 KB
    Download pdf

Training

Lifeline Queensland offers in-depth training to equip you with the skills to support yourself and your community in times of crisis.

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A Whole Person Approach to Wellbeing and Self-Care

Learn how to care for your emotional and psychological health to prevent burnout.

Accidental Counsellor

Develop better communication skills to support a colleague, client or friend

Psychological First Aid

Develop skills to respond to those in distress after critical events and natural disasters.

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Reflect, Replenish, Restore

Support and self-care so those involved in recovery work can avoid burnout.

Lifeline Corporate Training provides more training courses for workplaces and the public.

Holding on to Hope podcast

“It‘s really important that you recognise that what you‘re going through is not a journey you have to do alone.” - Black Saturday bushfire survivor Chris Bogusis
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