2018-04-10 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 4 - Local Disaster Recovery Subplan

7.1      Human and social recovery
Human and social recovery often begins spontaneously within a community and it is the role of
the Human and Social Subgroup to provide structure and resources to support, integrate and
coordinate these spontaneous efforts.

In Noosa, human and social recovery activities are coordinated through the Community Welfare
Sub Committee which meets regularly and has a broad based membership.

This section outlines the range of social recovery activities and services that address aspects of
safety, health and psychosocial wellbeing.

7.1.1    Principles of effective human and social recovery

There are five empirically supported principles to guide intervention efforts in the early to mid-
term stages post-disaster:

1. Promoting a sense of safety
2. Calming – providing reassurance, strategies to reduce worry, fear and distress
3. Enhancing ‘self-efficacy’ and ‘community-efficacy’ – giving people a sense of control over
   positive outcomes
4. Promoting connectedness, encouraging support networks, helping people to feel part of their
   community
5. Instilling a sense of hope and optimism for the future

Effective recovery is strongly influenced by very practical issues such as the availability of food,
housing, jobs and financial security. As a general rule, the more the community can be supported
to rebuild the social and physical infrastructure, to return to their jobs and schools, and to regain
financial stability, the greater the benefit for their wellbeing and recovery process.

The following seven indicators of social wellbeing may be used by the Community Welfare Sub
Committee:

1.   Wealth
2.   Employment
3.   Amenity
4.   Health
5.   Social issues
6.   Social belonging
7.   Recreation and leisure

As a guide, the Community Welfare Sub Committee should strive to:

    Provide timely and accurate information
    Reconnect people with their families, friends and community networks
    Empower people to manage their own recovery and to access practical assistance
    Provide engagement and emotional support at individual, family and community levels

7.1.2    Categories of human and social recovery

Safety and security
Loss of life, injury, loss of shelter and threats to safety as a result of a disaster all impact on an
individual’s and/or a community’s sense of safety and security. Social order and strong
governance provide the sense of safety that people require to reduce their anxiety about the
future. Disaster affected people will need timely information about safety, protection issues and
mitigation actions to address emerging safety and wellbeing issues.

Noosa Local Disaster Recovery Subplan 2018                                                   Page 39