From textbook to practice: Applying the five essential elements of disaster recovery

Background: Hobfoll et al.’s (2007) five essential elements of immediate and mid-term mass trauma intervention – promotion of a sense of safety, calming, self and collective efficacy, connectedness, and hope – provide a framework to guide the development and delivery of public health, group, and individual psychological interventions to promote adaptation following disaster.
The elements were used to guide the design, development and delivery of the Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program (BRP) for children impacted by the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires.
Aim: To determine the evidence of embedding Hobfoll et al.’s (2007) five essential elements within the design and delivery of the BRP.
Methods: Three data collection approaches were used:
1. A desktop analysis of the RFW BRP
2. Survey of 125 children
3. Interviews with 9 children and 13 parents
Qualitative responses to survey questions and data from interviews were analysed and coded to identify themes related to the five essential elements.
Results: The desktop analysis found that each of the five elements was addressed within the RFW BRP. The survey findings indicated that children perceived all five elements were addressed in the group sessions. Children reported that through group sessions they gained a better understanding of calmness and self and collective efficacy strategies; they also expressed a desire to explore these elements further. The interview data provided evidence that the five elements were comprehensively addressed in the BRP.
Conclusion: Underpinning the design and delivery of the RFW BRP with Hobfoll et al.’s (2007) five essential elements has contributed to affected children recovering, improving resilience and thriving post-disaster, of making children (and parents) feel safe and calm, have control over what occurs around them, feel connected to others, and feel hopeful about the future.