Bushfire Recovery Project

Frontline workers have a vital role in supporting their community’s ongoing recovery from the devastating 2019/2020 Australian bushfires, as well as from COVID-19 and other disasters since. To support frontline workers in their work with community members, Phoenix Australia was engaged to deliver free training to eligible frontline workers.

Through a range of free courses, Phoenix Australia aimed to work with frontline workers to enhance their ability to:

• Support community members’ resilience and recovery from the bushfires.
• Promote their own resilience and psychological recovery from the bushfires.
• Support the resilience and wellbeing of their teams and organisations.

These projects were made possible through the Federal Government Mental Health Supports for Bushfire Affected Australians, and the Victorian Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Bushfire Recovery packages.

• Over 3000 emergency services, community leaders, healthcare and frontline workers trained in Psychological First Aid and Trauma-informed Care.
• Over 300 Victorian mental health professionals trained in Trauma-focussed Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.
• Approximately 50 MHPN members trained as Skills fOr Life Adjustment and Resilience (SOLAR) Coaches.

In 2022, these projects were formally recognised by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, when Phoenix Australia was named winner of both the State and National Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards, which celebrate initiatives that focus on the mental health and wellbeing of Australian communities before, during and after disasters. Further information about the Resilient Australia Mental Health and Wellbeing Awards can be found here.

Unfortunately, all funded training places available through these projects have now been allocated. As such, unused codes and course links have now expired. For those based in Victoria, we are currently offering alternative-funded training opportunities that may be of interest. Specifically, as part of funding from the Victorian Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coronavirus Response Package, Phoenix Australia is offering customised versions of our online training in Psychological First Aid, Trauma-informed Care, and Spotlight on PTSD to people across Victoria supporting those impacted by the pandemic. For further information or to express your interest in accessing this free training, please visit the project page here.

You can also contact our training team with any questions about expired codes, or to discuss more training options for you or your organisation. We also have a number of useful resources available to help you support the recovery and resilience of your colleagues and communities affected by disasters. See below for further details.

Bushfire recovery resources

• You can find our Bushfire Toolkit in the resources list below, along with other trauma and bushfire mental health resources, and fact sheets and booklets about trauma for:
  – Health practitioners
  – Emergency Services workers and first responders
  – Community members

Disaster Mental Health Hub

• Information, resources and training for professionals who support individuals and communities experiencing the mental health impacts of disasters.