Recovering from disaster requires time, resources and support, and living rurally can certainly amplify the challenges individuals may face.
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Now a new support program for the shire's bushfire-affected residents is being delivered by some of those who understand it best, who lost their own homes and possessions in the summer of 2019/20.
In the wake of the Black Summer fires, Eden Community Access Centre (ECAC) applied for a grant to appoint rural support workers to provide an outreach service across the southern part of the Bega Valley Shire.
The $580,000 grant was successfully obtained through public health network Coordinaire, to improve outcomes for bushfire-affected individuals, families and communities.
"They've put their faith in us to deliver this program, it's great, really exciting," ECAC manager Carina Severs said.
"The program really gets the focus back on grassroots support, it's common sense."
Key aims of the program are to assist people to access services, offer advocacy and practical support, facilitate reconnection with community and support the development of skills and confidence.
Six permanent part-time rural support workers have been delivering the program since the beginning of May together with team leader Pam Skelton.
"We have chosen the workers deliberately from the midst of our own community, knowing they are empathetic, know what it feels like to have been in the situation," Ms Skelton said.
"They have experienced the loss and emotional impact and are on a similar journey of recovery, so approach the role from a genuine place of discovering strength together.
"The program is definitely building momentum, the more contacts we make the more imperative we feel the program is," Ms Skelton said.
"You might think with the passage of time people would be travelling more comfortably, but there is a lot of cumulative stress, for some a definite feeling that things are overwhelming.
"Some people feel a little at odds with each other, or feel they could have been better supported and draw comparisons.
"We are all needing help at different steps and stages - it's important to stay connected and try to keep positive."
"Our role and our proficiency in the area of referrals and services will grow as the program goes on, connecting people to right service is so important and we try to tailor the support to suit the needs of the people who come to us," Ms Skelton said.
A big aim of the program is to get out to more remote parts of the shire and offer support to affected residents where they are most comfortable.
Providing company and promoting wellness is a very big part of the program, generally facilitating reconnection within the affected communities as much as possible.
"We are interested to hear from the community about interest and recreational groups that might be interested in welcoming new members, as activities people can engage with can help sustain and support their wellbeing beyond the period of the program," Ms Skelton said.
Ms Severs said the access centre now planned to conduct some research around the program.
"We are hoping to do a paper of some description, we are looking for a partner, possibly a university," she said.
"It's quite a pilot program, I haven't heard of one similar happening anywhere else in the country. Hopefully it could be rolled out in other communities after disasters".
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Leah Szanto
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
Regional journalist covering the Far South Coast of NSW.
