Australian’s have a reputation for being ‘tough’ and ‘resilient’ but major emergencies have a tendency to destabilise ‘normal’ everyday life. The social environment of community provides the context for healthy recovery and what occurs after a disaster can have as much of an impact as the disaster itself. Recovery from emergencies involves a holistic interconnected network of services that wrap around and support the affected community. Some people may require specialised psychological support and assistance.
Since 2009 David has worked closely with a number of communities impacted by natural disaster and crisis. This includes the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, 2013 Tasmanian fires, 2014 Gippsland coal mine fire, 2014 Grampians fires, 2015 Lancefield/Benloch fires, 2015 Wye River/Separation Creek fire, and in 2016 addressing a forum of health professionals in Gippsland regarding the adversity facing dairy farmers. Most recently David has been involved in recovery services for the Epidemic Thunderstorm Asthma event in Melbourne (2016) and the Bourke Street tragedy (2017).
In 2015 David travelled to the middle-east to study community resilience. He has contributed to the development of a number of fact sheets regarding trauma and trauma recovery on the Better Health Channel Website. During the summer period David talks to media about community recovery following disaster.
Contact David directly to discuss support for affected communities which can include:
- Facilitation of information sessions about how emergencies affect communities
- Recognising and understanding how stress affects individuals and those around them
- Recognising and understanding grief, loss and bereavement
- Suggestions and advice about how to look after yourself through a difficult period
- Strategies about how to best look after neighbours, family, friends and community
Read more about community recovery in this article by Trauma and Disaster Recovery Expert, Dr Rob Gordon.
Qualifications- BA (Hons), MPsych (Clinical), Dip Health (Clin Hyp)
- Training Facilitator - Psychological First Aide
- Training Facilitator - Understanding the Recovery Cycle
Current Professional Roles
- Clinical and Consultant Psychologist to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) - Emergency Management Branch Victoria
- Member and Co-Chair - Emergencies Psychosocial Reference Group (DHHS)
- Media Liaison - Australian Psychological Society (APS) Media Referral Service