Dairy support agents are joining the recovery drive by offering fire-affected farmers a listening ear.
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Warrnambool’s Helen Chapman and Colac-based Ann-Marie Byrne are travelling to the affected region with tips on dealing with trauma.
The pair of social workers are employed in South West Healthcare’s Dairy Community Support Program.
Established during the 2016 milk price crisis, the duo now aim to deal with the effects of fire.
“It’s a different focus,” Ms Chapman said, “But the effects on this community remain traumatic.”
The program is designed to offer support, counselling and emergency relief to farmers.
Ms Chapman said her team would deal with an array of feelings that presented now that the fires are contained.
“Usually the first focus in a crisis is that people have a roof over their heads, food and water,” she said. “Then over the next few weeks it will turn to adjusting to the experience.”
The effects of trauma have no time frame and no one person’s experience is “normal”, Ms Chapman said.
”They (fire affected) will experience a whole range of emotions. There’ll be shock, fear, anger, and helplessness.
“They will also have a whole range of experiences over the next few weeks including sleep problems, physical tiredness, tremors, aches and pains.”
The role of the support team will evolve over the upcoming weeks.
“We’ll provide a listening ear,” Ms Chapman said. “We’ll talk about what they’ve experienced, the management of trauma and what to expect, and most importantly to let them know what they’re feeling is normal.”