The Victorian Bushfires: Supporting Those Experiencing Grief in the Wake of the Fires

Australia’s worst natural disaster occurred on 7 February 2009.  173 people died in the Black Saturday fires with around 500 injured.  The fires affected 78 individual towns, at least 2,029 homes were destroyed and 7,500 people were left homeless.   Many of these people have relocated to other parts of Victoria.  Professionals working in various healthcare settings, support services, educational institutions and other workplaces are likely to come across people who were left traumatised and grieving as the result of the Black Saturday bushfires.  

This workshop will explore the impact of a disaster such as Black Saturday.  It will focus on common responses to trauma, both during the immediate recovery phase and long term sequelae. Trauma reactions and grief experienced by adults, children and adolescents will be addressed. Interventions ranging from immediate psychological first aid to ongoing clinical interventions following trauma and traumatic bereavement will be covered. The impact of this work on professionals will be acknowledged and strategies for achieving adequate self care and skilled and supportive supervision will be covered. Through discussion and the use of didactic and experiential learning, participants will develop their understanding of the impact of disasters such as the Black Saturday Bushfires, and will explore effective psychosocial interventions for adults, children and adolescents.