Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Communication and community engagement

32

3.77 Natural disasters have profound and enduring mental health impacts on affected

communities.199 The Committee acknowledges that for some community

members the May 2025 East Coast severe weather event was particularly

significant due to the compounding and retraumatising nature of successive

disasters in recent years.

200 Stakeholders emphasised that mental health and

psychosocial support services are desperately needed to support both immediate

and long-term recovery outcomes.

201

3.78 Stakeholders noted the importance of mental health or psychosocial supports

being available immediately following a disaster event, particularly in rural and

regional areas.

202 For example, Lifeline Australia reported that their centres

experienced 'a significant increase in individuals presenting with acute distress,

anxiety and hopelessness' following the May 2025 East Coast severe weather

event.203

3.79 It is crucial that mental health support services are readily available at recovery

hubs to ensure that community members are appropriately supported at the

time of seeking assistance. Lifeline Mid Coast reported that many flood-affected

residents were not able to process instructions or engage with recovery services

due to trauma-induced cognitive disruption.

204 Ms Catherine Vaara, Chief

Executive Officer, Lifeline Mid Coast, explained that:

...people have a cognitive difference during a trauma that needs to have space

before they get into the other, practical side of things. The practical side is where

they want to get to. They want answers, they want help. But before they get that

emotional stuff settled, they can't take instruction.

205

3.80 The Committee heard that requiring people to repeatedly recount their

experiences across different agencies adds to the burden of already distressed

community members and undermines the effectiveness of recovery assistance.

206

Mr Jacob Walsh, NSW State Director, Australian Red Cross, advocated for a

whole-of-government approach for community members presenting at Recovery

Centres having to retell their story to multiple times.

207

3.81 Service NSW described the 'Tell Your Story Once' initiative operating within

Recovery Centres. This platform allows individuals to provide their personal

information once and have it shared with some agencies to help case manage

grants and other supports. Mr Wells noted that the platform is 'mostly used

within Service NSW' at Recovery Centres, but that 'there is an opportunity to

199 Submission 21, Lifeline Australia, p 2; Hunter Joint Organisation, Answers to questions on notice, p 9.

200 Submission 21, pp 2-3.

201 Jacob Walsh, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2026, p 3; Submission 22, p 5.

202 Submission 35, p 13; Submission 21, pp 2-3.

203 Submission 21, p 3.

204 Submission 13, Lifeline Mid Coast, p 1.

205 Catherine Vaara, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 23.

206 Submission 27, p 8; Jacob Walsh, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2025, p 8; Submission 16, St Vincent de

Paul Society NSW, p 2; Submission 49, p 17; Omar Bensaidi, Senior Policy Officer, Homelessness NSW, Transcript of

evidence, 3 November 2025, p 12.

207 Jacob Walsh, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2026, p 4.