Many people living with a disability or chronic health condition, or those who are ageing or frail, rely on regular support from family or friend carers in preparing for and responding to a natural disaster. A combination of limited services in rural and remote areas, social isolation and limited financial resources as a result of caring responsibilities can mean that carers and the people they care for experience disproportionately adverse mental health impacts when natural disasters occur.
Carers NSW experience supporting carers in flood affected regions of regional NSW combined with findings from the Carers NSW 2022 National Carer Survey highlight the need for a tailored service response and improved disaster preparedness for carers and the people they care for.
This presentation will draw on new evidence about carers’ experiences of natural disasters and identify opportunities to improve the inclusiveness of natural disaster responses through a new project based in NSW: Care2Prepare. It argues that improving community awareness and responsiveness to the needs of carers and the people they care for will enable more effective support during times of crisis, and help mitigate ongoing mental health impacts.