Mental health and training for our volunteer first responders

First-responder volunteers such as country bushfire brigades, first-aid groups, and State Emergency Services (SES) members, are often exposed to a range of traumatic events for which their training ill-equips them.

With this in mind, not-for-profit (NFP) group Benefolk is holding a free training course for local community groups whose members may be liable to both burnout and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

This mental health and trauma training course is for groups which face hardship and exposure to tragedy including the floods of recent years, bushfires, motor vehicle accidents, and the recovery process from these events. Individuals working or volunteering in NFPS, community organisations, charities, committees of management, and incorporated associations, are eligible to attend at no cost.

The floods in and around Dubbo in recent years meant that many staff and volunteers in local NFP organisations and community groups became “accidental responders”, Benefolk Foundation CEO and Founder Julia Keady said.

Research, she said, shows that those in similar positions are experiencing trauma and burnout and yet most community-led organisations, especially those in regional areas, can’t easily access training to support their people to manage or prevent this “helper trauma”.

“We ran a similar program last year for 130 organisations across the Northern Rivers, after their tragic flood events,” Julia said. “Feedback was that the training increased people’s confidence to continue their critical work, while creating a safe and sustainable working environment.”

Legislative changes, she explained, makes this work even more important.

“A similar shift occurred in terms of maintaining their own psychological safety, so we encourage all local NFP leaders to make time to send their team, especially given the obligations around psycho-social legislation changed in 2023.

“This means it’s imperative for all NFPS and charities to be on the front foot of staff and volunteer wellbeing in their organisations,” Julia explained.

Organisations can also access The Community Well, which has more than 100 free resources tailored to not-for-profit organisations, all focused on enhancing wellbeing. The full-day face-to-face training session will be delivered at Dubbo Regional Theatre and Convention Centre, on Friday, May 24, from 9am.

Adam Blanch, the psychologist who is delivering the training, says that any organisation that has staff working with traumatised people should have a psychological safety plan in place covering prevention, mitigation and recovery.

“Vicarious trauma – or what I call ‘helper trauma’ – doesn’t just affect emergency services personnel, but anyone working with traumatised people, such as those who have been supporting flood-affected communities,” Mr Blanch explained.

“An important first step is creating a trauma-informed work culture and training staff in preventative measures. This course will provide knowledge and skills towards this goal,” he concluded.

 Organisations can reserve places for the event at: tinyurl.com/dubresilient

For more information, go to: www.benefolk.org/ central-west-special-project