2015-06-23 I&S Agenda - Item 5 - Local Disaster Recovery Plan - Attachment 2

                           Noosa Local Disaster Recovery Plan 2015/2016


Increasingly, research shows that companion animals can also contribute to the recovery
and maintenance of both physical and mental health.
The Community Welfare Sub Committee should:
   recognise that restoring animal–owner links in the aftermath of evacuation is an
    important aspect of social recovery and return to normalcy
   recognise that the grief from loss of companion animals can be as equally powerful for
    some people as other losses, and this should be recognised in access to services and
    remembrance activities
   work with animal welfare agencies (for example, the RSPCA) and take the opportunity
    to use volunteer support to provide services related to animal welfare
In addition, loss of stock and native animals can cause distress in both children and adults.
Arrangements for the care of stock and native animals should be provided for and
information on them given to the community.

23.22 Cultural and spiritual factors
The Community Welfare Sub Committee should be aware of and respect the cultural and
spiritual world views that shape many communities’ views of the disaster.

Cultural and spiritual symbols and rituals can provide an essential dimension to the
community recovery process. Rituals and symbols provide something that is familiar and
comforting in times of uncertainty and change. Commemorative events and memorials can
assist the community to interpret and share their emotions and collectively make sense of
the disaster for example, spontaneous floral tributes at or close to the sites of a disaster, and
probably beginning in the immediate aftermath.

The Community Welfare Sub Committee should note that that these symbols may be
identified pre- or post-disaster. If these are recognised, supported and coordinated as part
of the recovery process, which is owned by the community, they will provide the focus for
cultural and spiritual activities.

Remembrance activities must recognise that all people are affected and have equal rights to
participate in planning commemorative events or permanent memorials.

Memorialisation has traditionally honoured a society’s dead, so there is a tendency to focus
upon the bereaved. The Community Welfare Sub Committee should facilitate processes that
are sensitive to the wishes of the bereaved, but that are inclusive of all people affected by
the disaster.

These activities assist in the long-term integration of the emergency or disaster into the
history of the community. Often these activities can be conducted on anniversaries or other
significant community occasions.

23.23 Community Development Officers
In some circumstances it may be necessary to provide additional resources to support the
community development component of the recovery process. In particular, the employment
of one or more community development workers may be necessary to facilitate a range of
activities which will enhance the recovery of individuals and the broader community affected
by any given event.

Funding for Community Development Officers will vary however may be funded as part of a
Community Recovery Package under NDRRA Category C funding. The Human/Social
Recovery Sub-group should consider the need for one or more community development
officers and prepare funding submissions and business cases to the Local Disaster
Recovery Committee to enable advocacy for appropriate funding.

                                                                                              42