Your impact: A disaster recovery timeline.
Our volunteers and staff are there for the long haul — walking alongside individuals and communities through every phase of recovery, often over a three-year period and beyond.
0 - 6 months In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, our main priorities are the delivery of psychological first aid and the provision of timely, accessible information to help people make informed decisions. This includes helping people reconnect with loved ones through services like Register. Find.Reunite, which helps register, find and reunite family and friends. At the same time, we advocate for community voices and marginalised groups to ensure inclusive recovery planning from the outset. We also work in partnership with government agencies and other recovery services to streamline our service delivery and strengthen long-term recovery efforts. 6 – 12 months Once life begins to return to normal, we shift our focus to fostering community connections and delivering wellbeing support through our recovery basics, stress management workshops and Wellbeing Toolkit. 12 – 18 months As people begin to come to terms with the psychological impacts of a disaster, we continue to streamline our service delivery and recovery planning in partnership with government agencies and other recovery services. The focus during this time is on ensuring that communities are better prepared for future events. We may also help to plan and organise disaster anniversary events to support ongoing recovery and reflection.
18 – 24 months At this stage, we continue to be present in disaster-stricken communities, long after many other recovery programs have ended, despite there still being a need for support. Our advocacy for community voices and marginalised groups does not stop — it remains a core focus throughout all stages of recovery, ensuring that inclusive recovery planning continues well beyond the immediate response. We also strengthen our support for community leaders who may be at risk of fatigue or burnout, helping to sustain local leadership and resilience. 24 – 30 months At this stage, it’s all about building connections, and increasing engagement and collaboration within communities. The focus is on growing people’s confidence so that they can be mentally stronger, and better prepared logistically if disaster strikes again. 30 – 36 months Towards the end of our recovery cycle, our focus shifts from recovery to resilience, as we empower communities to lead the way towards new beginnings, and a brighter, more prepared future.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
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