Become a DRN volunteer

The following eligibility criteria must be met to join the DRN: 

• General registration as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia 
• Current APS membership 
• Adequate and appropriate Professional Indemnity Insurance 
• Successful completion of the APS Responding to disasters online training course which provides a comprehensive understanding of the roles of psychologists in a disaster context. 

You will be working as a psychologist, using your skills and knowledge in a non-clinical or counselling setting. Your primary role is to support frontline workers (including volunteers) following a disaster or critical incident, via informal wellbeing checks by telephone. 
 

You will be using active listening, patience, respect, and other relationship/micro-counselling skills to guide basic problem-solving and other self-care strategies e.g., self-soothing/relaxation; (re)accessing social connections and support; behavioural activation/promoting positive activities; promoting helpful thinking. 
 

You will most likely not be providing a clinical service or doing therapy. Disaster affected people do not need therapy in the immediate post-disaster phase. This is the time when they need Psychological First Aid. Some people may need to be referred onwards to mental health services. However, whilst the intention is that psychologists do not provide a clinical service or therapy, you could be drawing on your clinical skills in the case of more complex situations, for example, if a worker or member of the public became particularly distressed and you were involved in helping them to calm down. 

Your confidentiality obligations under the Code of Ethics continue. Part of your role, for example in undertaking wellbeing checks, may be to provide a referral for additional services or to provide feedback to the coordinating body (e.g., Red Cross) about any supports that might be required. Any such feedback should be kept at a high-level and focused on the person’s wellbeing, without sharing any private information. For instance, a recommendation might be made that someone needs to go home early because their deployment is impacting their wellbeing. The exact reason for this impact does not need to be shared (whether it’s health, family, stress, operational issues, or other). Wherever possible, recommendations such as this should be discussed with the affected person first, to get their approval to share. However, from time to time a person may choose to ignore their personal impact over a desire to help. In this case, a discussion can be had with the operational team about next steps. 

If in doubt about a confidentiality issue, consult with another psychologist/APS DRN liaison contact person. 

No, DRN services are provided pro bono. Where travel or accommodation is involved, associated costs, including meals, are often covered by the organisation requesting support. 

DRN psycholgists must have their own professional indemnity insurance (PII) and personal accident insurance if they are deployed in the field. 

The DRN was established in response to the Black Saturday Victorian bushfires of 7 February 2009. In the days following the fires, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) received calls from hundreds of members offering their services and support to victims. 

The APS also received a number of calls from emergency response agencies, including The Red Cross (ARC), inquiring about additional support to assist with the recovery effort. The APS responded by establishing the Disaster Response Network for members to register their interest and expertise in disaster recovery.