Bushfire Recovery Resources

Resources for General Practices

• Bushfire Recovery Mental Health Support: Quick Guide for GPs in the Nepean Blue Mountains region (July 2020)
• Natural Disaster and Emergency Primary Health Workforce Response (NSW RDN)
• Disaster Menthal Health Hub: Information, resources and training for professionals who support individuals and communities experiencing the mental health impacts of disasters (Phoenix Australia)

HealthPathways

Our HealthPathways team led the national development of a suite of pathways addressing Disaster Planning and Management addressing issues related to patients and general practice preparedness and recovery.

The pathways that have been developed are:

• General Practice Management during a Disaster
• Preparing a General Practice for Disaster
• Preparing Patients for a Disaster
• Post Natural Disaster Health
• Heat Related Illness
• Burn Injuries
• Specialist Burns Management

If you need access to HealthPathways, contact the HealthPathways team for a username and password.

GP Psychiatry Support Line

GPs in our region can access a free psychiatry advice line to help manage the care of patients with mental health concerns. The GP Psychiatry Support Line gives GPs direct and timely access to a psychiatrist, allowing patients whose conditions are treatable within primary care, to stay under the care of their GP.

Local and National Bushfire Recovery Resources

• National Bushfire Recovery Agency - coordinates the national response to rebuilding communities affected by bushfires across Australia.
• Services NSW: Bushfire Customer Care Service - helps individuals and businesses navigate the supports available across all levels of government.
• Hawkesbury City Council - A Guide to Bushfire Recovery Resources
• Blue Mountains City Council - Bushfire Recovery Guide
• Blue Mountains Resources Network: Emergency Resources

Keep up-to-date with disaster situations

If you are in an affected bushfire area please listen to the instructions provided by emergency services personnel. 

• Check updates from the official emergency radio broadcaster ABC Radio Sydney 702 AM. 
• Download the ‘Fires Near Me’ app and also check the NSW Rural Fire Service website or facebook page. 
• Regularly check the NSW SES website and/or facebook page.
• NSW Disaster Assistance Welfare Line lists open evacuation centres and Disaster Welfare Assistance Points - 1800 018 444.

RFS Local Government Area facebook pages

• RFS Blue Mountains district facebook page
• NSW RFS Hawkesbury District facebook page
• RFS Chifley/Lithgow facebook page
• RFS Cumberland Zone (Penrith) facebook page

RACGP Resources

The RACGP offers the following:

• Bushfires Fact Sheet
• Flooding Fact Sheet
• Extreme Weather Fact Sheet
• Mental Health and Emergencies Fact Sheet
• Thunderstorm Asthma Fact Sheet
• Managing Emergencies in General Practice: A Guide for Preparation, Response and Recovery