Support For Bushfire Victims
The recent spate of devastating bushfires in Australia has left a long list of individuals needing emotional support, with some not needing counselling for months. However, recent fire victims are facing a coronavirus pandemic as well as psychological scars from the blaze. Thankfully, many Australian employers provide counselling services through Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), making it easy to get short-term support after a disaster.
Free counselling
A new government program will provide free counselling and psychology services to bushfire survivors and emergency service workers. These sessions will be offered on a continual basis, giving affected individuals the best chance of a full mental health recovery. The program will also provide free trauma care training for emergency services personnel, support bushfire trauma response coordinators, and develop a National Cross-Services Framework. In addition, the federal government will provide an immediate $76 million to cover the costs of psychological therapy sessions for affected individuals.
Bushfire recovery support is also extending Telehealth services. These services will be available to people living in remote, rural, or regional areas. In addition to providing counselling services, telehealth will also help people connect with local support services. By making available the services of mental health professionals via the internet, these programs are helping people deal with the aftermath of the bushfire. The programs will help those affected by bushfires to recover faster and stay healthy.
Beyond Blue is another program providing free mental health services. A case support coordinator will help affected individuals access vital resources. A case support coordinator can help them access mental health resources, financial services, and information. The program will provide a safe space and a community to talk about their feelings and process the aftermath of the fire. There are also several online forums for survivors of bushfires. And the organization is also making available free counselling services to the public.
The government has also announced the creation of a national mental health response framework. It will ensure that mental health services are integrated in a disaster response, while developing an effective framework for all jurisdictions. The training will begin immediately and gradually roll out over six months. The Government is providing funding to Primary Health Networks in the affected areas to develop and expand mental health services, as well as to provide tailored support. Further, it will provide grants to community groups and organisations to support activities that assist with recovery after bushfires.
Free accommodation
Australia has recently been affected by a bushfire crisis, with over 2600 homes destroyed. There is a strong possibility that more homes will be destroyed in the coming weeks as the conditions worsen. The NSW Government has committed $1 billion to rebuilding bushfire-affected communities. This money will be used for public works, such as road, rail, school and community facilities. Many of these communities are now in need of free accommodation. The following websites will help Australians find temporary accommodation.
Airbnb is helping the bushfire survivors by offering their spare rooms. The program helps hosts post free accommodation, and requires basic amenities such as a bed and bathroom. Those wishing to host guests must have at least 2 days of availability. Free accommodation can also be found on airbnb, an app that allows people to list spare rooms and search for guests. Some websites even allow you to keep pets! The Hit Network app is another good resource for finding free accommodation for bushfire victims.
If you’re interested in volunteering in the disaster area, you can find a listing on Airbnb. The company needs accommodation to be available from January 1 to January 16, 2020. Airbnb has sections for both Victoria and New South Wales. Creating an account is quick and easy, and once you’ve registered, you’ll be able to message the hosts and request to stay in their homes. This program is designed to help those in need stay at temporary accommodation for as long as possible.
Oaks Hotels, Resorts & Suites is also offering free room nights to displaced bushfire victims. The free accommodation will be provided to the victims of the recent fires and they will have access to amenities such as a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. The hotels have more than 30 locations in Australia, and they are offering free accommodation for those in need. In fact, Oaks has given free accommodation to more than 7,000 people displaced by the disaster.
GoFundMe campaign
A GoFundMe campaign for bushfire relief has sprung up in Australia in response to the recent fires that have devastated the country. The fast-moving blaze destroyed over 70 homes in Tathra, New South Wales. People all over the world are rallying to help. This page will collect donations from all over the world to help the victims of the fires. It will be updated as new pages are verified and added to the list.
But there are risks associated with unofficial campaigns, which could end up diverting funds away from genuine causes. In the case of Ms Barber’s GoFundMe campaign, more than $20 million has been raised in 48 hours. Donors from more than 30 countries have contributed to the fund. But the dangers of unofficial fundraising campaigns are well-documented. One example is that copycat fundraising pages have the exact same details and images as a legitimate campaign, which can be easily traced.
Another GoFundMe campaign for Australian bushfires is a Facebook fundraiser run by actress Celeste Barber. This campaign, launched by a popular Australian influencer, raised A$51 million in two days, and has now surpassed its predecessor by almost A$20 million. There are still countless people and animals in Australia suffering, but the GoFundMe campaign is helping to bring some relief.
One Australian woman’s GoFundMe campaign for bushfire relief has raised a record amount of money: A$51 million. However, this is not enough, since there are no specific charities to distribute the funds. In addition to local charities, the NSW RFS has opted to distribute the money to other causes. If the campaign succeeds, the victims will benefit. They will also have their much-needed funds back.
Medicare rebates
Bushfire victims can now access mental health services through Medicare through a new program. The Australian Government has committed $76 million to help those affected by the bushfires, with $3.2 million of that going to bushfire mental health response coordinators. These rebates allow eligible people to self-refer for help, with no minimum distance. People can access these services without a referral from their GP. They will also be able to access the services immediately.
Bushfire-related mental health services are available without a referral or plan from a GP. Through the Better Access Bushfire Recovery Telehealth initiative, qualified psychologists, occupational therapists, and social workers can provide Medicare rebates for their services. They may be eligible to provide up to 10 individual mental health sessions. For the most part, these services are free for bushfire victims. However, there are some conditions and restrictions.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the government would consider extending the rebates to cover psychology sessions for bushfire victims. He said mental health support should be a top priority in the government’s $2 billion relief effort. The President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners said the peak body fully supported the Labor government’s proposal. The Prime Minister said the bushfires are a national crisis requiring a national response.
The current bushfire disaster in Australia has caused immense suffering to millions of people, including those who have lost homes, jobs, and resources. The victims have been left with extreme stress, confusion, and hopelessness. The Australian Government has introduced 10 Medicare rebates for bushfire victims to help them recover from their losses. If you are unsure of which services are eligible for the rebate, you should consult with your state’s representative for further details.
Cobargo’s volunteer-run relief centre
The volunteers behind Cobargo’s volunteer-run bushfire relief centre are making life a bit easier for the town’s displaced residents. The centre was established day one of the disaster, setting up operations at a local showground. Today, the centre offers whatever help and support is needed by displaced residents and is funded by the local branch of the Maritime Union. Despite the devastating effects of the fires, the town is determined to rebuild.
In the midst of the rebuilding, the township of Cobargo is resembling a ghost town, a city remade from ash. The town’s residents have made do in a temporary setting, but it’s still difficult to feel normal after the devastation. Many residents are still living in tents, caravans, or shipping containers. Others have no running water, and many are living off donated food and clothes.
In addition to food supplies, the volunteer-run centre for bushfire victims is also running an online fundraising campaign. The Foodbank has sent 120 pallets of food to Cobargo and four-thousand hampers to Bega and beyond. More than 1,300 vehicles and horse floats have collected donations for bushfire relief. Another new social media account, @spendwiththem, has featured local businesses in fire-affected areas.
The grant has helped the centre attract and secure funding, allowing it to provide much-needed assistance to locals. The grant has also provided remote business mentoring and grant-application support, helping local volunteers heal. With these grants, the community will have more resources to help the victims of the bushfire. So what exactly can the ABV grant do for the community? What can it help the community do to rebuild and be prepared for disasters?