How Social Isolation Affects Disaster Preparedness and Response in Australia: Implications for Social Work

ABSTRACT

Natural disaster impacts on populations already experiencing significant health, income, and social disadvantage, are both more intense and longer lasting than for the general population. The intersection of social isolation and poverty for some groups often results in significant risks during the immediate crisis of a disaster and ongoing challenges for recovery. This article reports on qualitative research examining natural disaster preparedness with five “at-risk” populations in regional Australia. The research was undertaken as part of a project sponsored by a regional organisation of local councils in New South Wales to map and understand spatial and social factors shaping natural disaster risks and responses. Seventeen focus groups were held with 111 participants; older people, people with disabilities, families with children under five, low-income households, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Findings illuminated participant experiences of the intersection between sociogeographic disadvantage with social isolation in the context of natural disaster preparation and response.

IMPLICATIONS

• Social isolation—or the intersection of social and geographic disadvantage—appears to be a complex contributor to vulnerability in disaster preparation and response.

• Disaster risk needs to be assessed as part of social work support for vulnerable people.

对于健康、收入、社会方面已然弱势的人口，自然灾害对他们的影响远比对一般人口要重要长。孤立与贫穷叠加在某些人群身上使他们在灾难后的危机和恢复过程中险象环生。本文为定性研究，考察了澳大利亚局部地区五个涉险人群对于自然灾害的准备能力。作为新南威尔士地方委员会的区域组织所资助项目的一部分，文研究旨在确定并理解构成自然灾害风险及反应的空间和社会因素。针对111位参与者举办了17个焦点小组，包括老人、残疾人、五岁以下儿童的家庭、低收入家庭、不同文化及语言背景的人员。参与者在自然自然灾害防范和反应过程中经历了社会地理弱势和社会孤立的双重不利。

KEYWORDS:

• Disaster
• Inequality
• Social Isolation
• Australia
• Vulnerability
• Disaster Preparation and Response

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Erratum

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Environment Division of Hunter Councils: Hunter and Central Coast Regional Environmental Management Strategy for project management and coordination. In particular we thank Steve Wilson and Meredith Lang for their support and contributions to the project. We would also like to thank research participants who gave their time, ideas, and reflections freely. We appreciate your contribution immensely.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.