Our Stories – Beyond the Disaster

This report was released in 2021 by the National Mental Health Commission as part of the national framework for responding to mental health and wellbeing issues following a disaster.

The report, entitled Our Stories – Beyond the Disaster, was conducted with 26 participants from two natural disaster settings: 12 people from the Eurobodalla and Bega Valley communities who were significantly impacted by the 2019/20 bushfires; and 14 people affected by 2019 monsoon flooding in Townsville and North West Queensland.

The project gathered stories from people who had lived through natural disaster and also looked into individual, family and community responses to find out how local challenges and adaptations can be implemented on a national level.

The recommendations focus on services working with disaster management and call for trauma-informed  human-focused support, with points that could be highlighted to support creative process and programs.

This report forms the basis for the development of the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework.

READ THE REPORT