While there has been a huge outpouring of support for fire victims from all tiers of government, their agencies and charity organisations, Barrier Breakers
hopes to implement a long-term counselling program that will get fire-affected Gipplsanders through the tough year ahead. It wants to establish a unique 12-month counselling service for people devastated by the fires and has applied for funding from both state and federal governments. Barrier Breakers secretary Derek Amos said as part of the service, six volunteers who had experienced bushfires would be trained to counsel and mentor victims of the fires which tore through the region on 29 January and 7 February. The counsellors are more believable because they’ve been through that experience and they’re talking from experience,” he said. Mr Amos said it was not unusual for tragic events such as bushfire to trigger depressive illnesses in people long after the event. We recognise that the trauma may not even be felt now, it may well be several months. That’s why we suggest that this thing should last for at least 12 months.”
Mr Amos said the counselling service would target those who had lost loved ones, their possessions or who were showing signs of delayed shock.