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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 8 Hansard (20 August) . . Page.. 2931 ..


MS GALLAGHER (continuing):

preparations on Friday 17 January and Saturday 18 January. I table the department's submission to the ACT bushfire recovery task force, which was included in the McLeod report. I present the following paper:

Department of Education, Youth and Family Services-Role of the Department in the lead-up and on the day of the Canberra bushfires.

Bushfires-compensation for volunteers

MR WOOD: Mr Speaker, I have a fairly detailed answer in response to a question asked by Mrs Cross yesterday, so I will table it. I present the following paper:

Support provided for Bushfire and Emergency Service Members since January.

I seek leave to incorporate the answer in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The document read as follows-

Support provided for Bushfire and Emergency Service Members since January

Individual Support:

IPS Counsellors at ESB and Staging Area from January 19th. Available for general support and advice.

Contact phone numbers for EAP promulgated with Brigade members through Staging Area and ESB from January 19th

Volunteer Support Officer at Bureau and subsequently Curtin Staging Area from beginning of campaign. Started follow-up on affected members, including individual phone calls as notified from January 19th.

Chief Fire Control Officer sent a letter to each volunteer recognising their efforts so far and recommending that they take the opportunity to speak to one of the counsellors that are readily available.

Scheduled change over of EAP on January 31st managed by bring new provider on board earlier, and former provider continuing with clients with whom they had already had contact.

Continued availability of de-briefing advised at every possible forum, and through individual contact. Posters and phone-cards provided to all locations

27% of new referrals to EAP provider between Feb 3 and Feb 28 were from Bushfire and Emergency Services. (7 members)

Group Debriefing

Available on request from January 19th, at ESB or on site at sheds as requested.

Formal debrief schedule developed with Davidson Trahaire. Group debriefing offered through all Captains and Commanders; counsellors went to Brigade sheds between end of January and early March. Mostly after-hours. 8 completed by February 25th, for up to 30 members at each brigade.

Organisational Recovery

Steering Committee including HR staff and EAP provider established February 5th to identify recovery needs, and develop strategies to address.

24 members trained to deliver a "Self Care at Work and Home"workshop for fellow members. Course details the effects of stress and strategies for managing.


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