By Kath Gannaway
A BUSHFIRE outreach service is calling on the State Government to help it continue provide crucial counselling support to victims of the Black Saturday bushfires.
Eastern Access Community Health (EACH) says it needs between $1.2 and $1.5 million dollars to provide counselling services to people at a critical time in their recovery.
“Many people are only now showing signs of distress after their bushfire experience and realising that assistance may be helpful,” Jodie Bowker, EACH Bushfire Liaison officer, said.
Ms Bowker said as several other services wind back from the bushfire-affected areas, the service offered by EACH becomes even more vital.
She said EACH had largely funded their bushfire recovery work and have funds to see them through to the end of this year.
“We responded because the need was there, and it is still there, and will be for some time,” Ms Bowker said.
She said the different stages of recovery are well documented and recognised and for many will go well beyond two or even three years.
The service has seen more than 350 people and families for counselling and support since the fires.
“Our objective with this model has been to offer personal support to many people who may otherwise have never engaged with these services.
A client who spoke with the Mail, but who didn’t want to be named, said the loss of the EACH service would be devastating for many of the people who still need help.
The client said only in the past few months she accepted that she too needed help.
“In the end, you make yourself get help because you have hit a wall; you can’t go back into the community unless you have the strength to do so, and these people come from a different perspective,” she said.
“They are going out to people and meeting the need which is there now.”
EACH has applied for funds from the $16million announced earlier this year from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund, and are hoping that on-going counselling will be a priority. A spokeswoman for Deputy Premier and Bushfire Response Minister Peter Ryan said the Coalition Government understands the importance of providing counselling and outreach programs to Victoria’s bushfire-affected communities and that funding for 0outreach services is provided through the $2.7 million Department of Human Services’ Bushfire Communities Support Program.
“The Coalition Government has received the request for funding from EACH and the Fire Recovery Unit is currently working directly with EACH regarding its proposal,” she said.
EACH badly hamstrung
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