Bushfire trauma preparation and recovery - enabling healthcare workers

This webinar has been postponed to early 2021. Please check back for updates in the New Year.

Join us for an interactive webinar to discuss learnings from past fire seasons and what works in supporting workforce wellbeing. 

In this webinar Phoenix Australia will present some of the long-term learnings from the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, lead a discussion about emerging health issues following the 2019-2020 bushfires and discuss best practice ways to help your workforce and communities psychologically prepare for the coming season.

Learn about Phoenix Australia's brief trauma-related training to GPs and their practice staff that is funded through the Australian Government’s Mental Health Supports for Bushfire Affected Australians package. The training draws on elements of Trauma-Informed Care and Psychological First Aid. 

Find out about the Black Dog Institute’s Bush Fire Support Service which includes specialty training for GPs in bushfire affected areas so they can better meet the needs of emergency service workers and their families.

What the webinar will cover:

• What do the 2009 research findings tell us about impacts and recovery?
• How does this help you prepare now?
• Learn about best practice strategies to support yourself, your staff, and your community
• Hear from a GP from a fire-impacted region about their experience and learnings
• Learn about the training available to GPs and practice staff through Phoenix Australia and Black Dog Institute 

Who should attend?

This free one-hour webinar is suited to leaders of health care services, particularly GP practices, in bushfire-affected areas of Australia. 

Speakers and panellists:

• Nicole Sadler, Head Policy and Practice, Phoenix Australia
  
• Jane Nursey, Director of Clinical Services, Phoenix Australia
• Alexandra Howard, Director of Disasters and Public Health Emergencies, Phoenix Australia 
• Associate Professor Samuel Harvey, Chief Psychiatrist, Black Dog Institute
• General Practitioner (to be announced)

Speaker bios:

Nicole Sadler is a Clinical Psychologist with an in-depth understanding of issues and challenges for individuals working in high-risk organisations. She has worked on mental health strategic reviews, policy and training development projects and research projects for police, emergency services and other government agencies at Commonwealth and State levels.

Jane Nursey is a Clinical Neuropsychologist with almost 30 years’ experience in the field of posttraumatic mental health, including working with Defence Force, police and other emergency service personnel, and disaster survivors. She has been involved in longitudinal research looking at the long-term outcomes of the Black Saturday bushfires. 

Alexandra Howard is a Clinical Psychologist with more than 10 years of experience in posttraumatic mental health. She has worked with disaster-impacted communities, and the health professionals who support them. She is leading Phoenix Australia's work with the Department of Health to build capability for emergency service and GP practice staff in bushfire-impacted areas.

Associate Prof Samuel Harvey is a Senior Academic Psychiatrist and leads the Workplace Mental Health Research Program at the Black Dog Institute and University of New South Wales. After initially working as a general practitioner, A/Prof Harvey trained in psychiatry has since 2012 has led a program of research focused on the relationship between work and mental health.

This webinar is presented by Phoenix Australia - Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health, with funding from the Australian Government under the Mental Health Supports for Bushfire Affected Australians package.

Phoenix Australia.

Australian lives have and will be devastated by traumatic events. Anyone of us can be affected and the psychological impacts are deep and complex.

We are trusted experts in trauma-related mental health and wellbeing. As Australia’s National Centre of Excellence in Posttraumatic Mental Health we are the internationally recognised leaders in our field.

Understanding trauma. Renewing lives.