Last month, the Metro South Addiction and Mental Health Services (MSAMHS) Disaster Flood Team was invited by the Scenic Rim Regional Council to attend a reception to thank the individuals and teams who played a vital role in delivering disaster response and recovery works during and after the Christmas and New Year weather events that significantly impacted the region.
The well-attended reception was held at the Vonda Youngman Community Centre in Tamborine Mountain, which was the same venue in which the emergency hub was set up in response to the impact of the weather events.
The Queensland Governor, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, the Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd) and the former mayor of the Scenic Rim Regional Council, Cr Greg Christensen, were among those who thanked members of the MSAMHS Disaster Flood Team and other attendees who were directly involved in the recovery and support efforts after flooding, heavy rain and high winds devastated the area.
The MSAMHS Disaster Flood Team were called in to provide specialist post-disaster mental health support including disaster-related trauma and loss as well as financial, relational and emotional support.
ADON Iris Vukelic who leads the MSAMHS Disaster Flood Team, said the team remains part of the community, listening to their pain and hurt and supporting their mental health recovery.
“Previous experiences taught us that mental health and wellbeing following disasters depends on partnership between agencies and communities, as well as proactive outreach,” she said.
“The MSAMHS Disaster Flood Team breaks down the barriers and stigma, humanising the mental health services and ensures that community strengths and local wisdom guide our service.”
Iris said the team enhances access and connections between individuals, communities and public health services.
“Everyone we met and everywhere the team worked, people expressed their gratitude that we are always there for the community, which was really rewarding to hear,” she said.
During their deployment to the Community Recovery Hubs in Tamborine Mountain, Beechmont, Jimboomba and Cedar Grove, the team helped more than 1000 adults and 200 children and are continuing to support a small number of residents to ensure their long-term mental health needs are met.
Adam Lo, the only occupational therapist (OT) in the team, brings his unique OT lens to the group and is also an instructor of Mental Health First Aid for Youth and a facilitator of the RAGE anger management group program.
“I love the fact that through this team, we can provide much needed mental health services directly to the individuals, families and communities affected by disasters such as the floods and cyclones,” he said.
“We are going into the affected communities, the homes of those who lost everything, and are there beside them as we work together to support their mental and overall wellbeing.”
A big thank you to the MSAMHS Disaster Flood Team for the incredible support you provide to our community!
If you want to learn more, please contact the team on MSAMHS-PostDisaster-Recovery@health.qld.gov.au or call 3089 4156.
The Disaster Flood Team is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements Category C.