Overview

The APS hosts this activity with the Australian National University. 

The recent bushfires have affected thousands of people across regional and rural Australia. In their wake, the bushfires have exacted enormous loss – of life, property, community, dignity and hope. Moreover, exposure to the fires and their smoke have caused untold health problems and concerns. The traumatic impact of the fires and smoke has been significant and calls for a timely and concerted response from healthcare professions to aid in the recovery of people and the rebuilding of their communities.

Emergency agencies such as the Red Cross have mobilized initial support and psychological first aid through their established channels and networks.

Following the bushfires, psychologists and other mental health professionals are called upon to provide a second wave of support, including the treatment of mental ill-health related to the impact of the fires. Providers in urban areas may also consider the offer of treatment to people living in regional, rural and remote areas. 

The purpose of this webinar was to help mobilise and prepare mental health workers across Australia to provide this second wave of support. It will provide an introduction to key areas of practice related to supporting people impacted by the bushfires. Participants will be able to assess their learning needs and find out about additional CPD that they can undertake to prepare themselves for this work.

Level of Learning

Foundational. This activity is targeted to those new to the topic.

Duration of access

Access to this activity is 12 months from the date of confirmed registration.

APS CPD-Approved

This activity has been assessed against the APS Standards for CPD activities and approved for its education quality.

Learn more about the APS CPD Approval process.

CPD Frequently Asked Questions

Refer to the APS CPD Frequently Asked Questions for general and technical information when undertaking APS Professional development activities.

Activity details

• On-demand webinar recording

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this activity, participants should gain introductory knowledge of:

• strategies for adjusting engagement, assessment and interventions to best meet the needs of the diverse populations who have been impacted by the fires,

• the broader health impacts of bushfire exposure and optimal ways to collaborate with General Practitioners in this area of work,

• culturally safe practice, and

• use of videoconferencing in clinical practice.  

Presenter(s)

Rob Gordon, Christine Phillips, Glenn Williams, Rohan McKnight, Julia Reynolds, Bruce Christensen

About the presenter(s)

Rob Gordon is a clinical psychologist who has been working in the field of disaster recovery since Ash Wednesday in 1983. He is a consultant to Red Cross and the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and has worked with people and communities after the Port Arthur shooting, the Bali Bombing, Black Saturday, the Christchurch Earthquake as well as numerous floods, fires, cyclones and other events throughout Australia and New Zealand. Rob himself is a bushfire survivor and spends time counselling and helping the survivors of bushfire, flood, fire, cyclone and other traumatic events. Christine Phillips is a general practitioner and health services researcher with interest and expertise in the health and health care of marginalised persons and populations, quality in health care and refugee and migrant health. Christine has extensive experience of working with people who have experienced trauma. She is Medical Director of the ACT's refugee health care service, and has over twenty-five years of clinical experience working in primary care in the context of deep urban poverty, drug and alcohol medicine, elder care, and prison health. She is past Chair of the Refugee Health Network of Australia and has been an Advisor for UNHCR, the Migration Council of Australia, and state/federal departments of health and human services. Glenn Williams Assoc MAPS is a descendant of the Wiradjuri people of NSW. Glenn is the Project manager for the MIND the GaP project at the University of Wollongong, which is developing and delivering best practice mental health services in the region. Glenn is   a Registered Psychologist and past State Mental Health Coordinator for the Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW (AH&MRC) – the NSW peak body for the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector. Prior to this Glenn worked in a clinical practice as a Psychologist based in an Aboriginal Medical Service. Rohan McKnight is the Digital Training Co-Ordinator at South Eastern NSW PHN, Coordinare. Rohan works closely with primary health care providers to develop, implement and support health informatics initiatives across the region. He provides technical and practical advice on clinical information systems, telehealth, secure messaging, and other eHealth technologies. Julia Reynolds FAPS is a Clinical Psychologist at the Research School of Psychology at the Australian National University. Julia has extensive experience in traditional forms of clinical practice as well as its application in electronic delivery formats including videoconferencing. Over the last decade, Julia has contributed to advances in research and practice in e-therapies and to national initiatives to train service providers in the use of technology in routine practice. Facilitator Bruce Christensen is a clinical psychologist and clinical neuropsychologist and the Director of Professional Programs (including the Master’s and PhD of Clinical Psychology and Master’s of Professional Psychology) at the Research School of Psychology, Australian National University. His clinical and research work has focused on serious mental illness with an emphasis on psychotic disorders and a particular interest in how stress causes vulnerability for psychotic experiences.