Recover

• Review and identify lessons. 

• Communicate with patients about return to normal business hours and services. 

• Connect with and refer to local social and community support agencies. 

• Identify and reach out to patients with increased vulnerability factors. 

• Identify community population health needs post disaster and develop campaigns to address emerging needs e.g. focus on mental health assessments. 

• Providing and accessing care and support.

• Patients in areas affected by natural disaster are now exempt from the existing relationship (12-month rule) requirement for telehealth. This means patients don’t need to have had a face-to-face consult with a GP in the last 12 months to access MBS subsidised telehealth services. 

A person is exempt from the 12-month rule if, at the time of accessing a telehealth service, they are living in a local government area that is declared by a State or Territory Government to be a natural disaster area. 

Distress, denial and disbelief are common reactions people may show for days and sometimes up to weeks after a disaster. In the initial hours and days, people may be stunned and dazed, particularly in response to a sudden and devastating disaster. 

During the first consultation with an impacted patient, GPs are advised to: 

• Listen, comfort and quietly accept information. 

• Ensure survival, safety and security. 

• Orient towards goals. 

Doctors may be directly impacted by disasters and need to look after their own health and wellbeing. Doctors may also become overloaded by the traumatic experiences of others. 

Early indicators that a doctor is affected by the traumatic experiences of their patients may include: 

• heightened response to the patient. 

• increased levels of arousal (sleep disturbance) 

• avoidance (includes increased alcohol use). 

To avoid being overwhelmed, doctors should consider: 

• discussing distressing or difficult experiences with colleagues 

• limiting their exposure to a tolerable level 

• maintaining good general health with regular exercise, good nutrition and sleep habits 

• seeking help if needed. 

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 

• Beyondblue: 1300 224 636 

• Mensline: 1300 789 978 

• Kids helpline: 1800 551 800 

Queensland Government financial and housing supports are available for people affected by the flooding events and other natural disasters. To access support please visit the website or phone the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349. 

Primary Health Networks (PHNs) may have been provided funding for disaster recovery grants to support local community wellbeing and resilience, community connections and emergency response capabilities. Please contact our Practice Support team to see if funding is available. 

• Review and identify lessons.

• Communicate with patients about return to normal business hours.

• Identify community population health needs post disaster and develop campaigns to address emerging needs e.g. focus on mental health assessments.

• Identify and reach out to patients with increased vulnerability factors.

• Connect with and refer to local social and community support agencies.  

• Disaster support and recovery (Queensland Government)  

• Getting help (DRS4DRS) 

• GP Support Program (RACGP) 

• Better Mental Health for Health Professionals (Black Dog Institute) 

• RACGP Natural Disasters (New information for GPs in, or supporting, disaster-affected communities) 

• Information for GPs in disaster affected areas (RACGP) 

• Mental health in emergencies and disasters (RACGP) 

• Head to Health website  

• Natural Disasters and your mental health (Beyond Blue) 

• How to deal with the stress of bushfires, floods, earthquakes and cyclones (ReachOut Australia)  

Visit the Get Ready Queensland website for a variety of useful advice and resources to help you and your patients recover from a disaster event. 

Queensland Government 

• Getting help 

• Support groups 

• How can I help? 

• Financial support 

• Interpreter services 

• Disaster recovery support 

• Housing help after a disaster 

• Rebuilding and cleaning up 

• Mental health and wellbeing 

• Translated fact sheets about financial assistance grants  

• Local government disaster dashboards  

• Grants Finder 

Other 

• Community Services Industry Alliance: a toolkit supporting and encouraging the role of community–based organisations 

• QCOSS Community Door: provides access to a variety of resources to assist Non-Government Organisations to consider when developing Business Continuity Plans and processes to assist vulnerable clients in a disaster.     

• ABC Radio is the recognised Emergency Broadcaster 

• Bureau of Meteorology 

• Australian Red Cross 

• Disability Inclusive disaster risk reduction: Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (Collaborating 4 Inclusion) 

• 'Nobody checked on us': what people with disability told us about their experiences of disasters and emergencies (theconversation.com)  

• Lifeline 

• Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience 

• Bushfire Resilience Rating app (National Emergency Management Agency) 

• Connects Rural Australia to Mental Health Services (Rural Health Connect) 

• Queensland Gives (Queensland Community Foundation) 

• RACQ Foundation 

• Federal Government’s information for school aged kids: 

  • Birdie stories 

Also check local Council websites and social media accounts (e.g. Facebook) to ensure you, staff and clients have access to up to date source of information during and post a disaster.