Postdisaster Social Work: Reflections on the Nature of Place and Loss

ABSTRACT

In this paper we examine the nature of loss in the context of environmental disasters. When the places people call home are irrevocably changed by disasters, people experience a profound sense of loss—loss that includes both tangible and intangible elements. Tangible aspects of loss include the loss of homes and infrastructure. Intangible losses are less evident but are associated with a loss of identity, of social cohesion, of belonging and community, and of health and wellbeing that are so integrally linked to one’s place. Social work academics across the world are developing environmental and ecological theories for practice that signal the need for social workers to be more engaged with the physical environment and the significance of place. Drawing on research conducted following the Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, we highlight the nature of loss in the context of damaged “places”.

IMPLICATIONS

• Social workers and others involved in disaster recovery need to be aware of both tangible and intangible losses and their impact on post-traumatic stress and growth.

• In the immediate postdisaster period, tangible losses such as homes and infrastructure are often the focus of disaster recovery efforts.

• Intangible losses of identity, community, and a sense of place and belonging may be of equal or greater significance than tangible losses for those affected by disasters.

本文探讨了环境灾害造成损失的性质。当人唤之为“家”的地方因灾害而不可挽回地改变，他们便经历很深 的丧失感——既包含实物也包含非实物因素。实物损失包括家及基础设施。非实物损失不显而易见，是与一个人所在的地方密切相关等的身份、社会关联、归属、社区、健康、福祉等等的丧失。世界各地的社工学术界都在营建用于实践的环境与生态理论，说明社会工作者需要更加关注物质环境和地方的重要性。本文是对维多利亚黑色星期六林火的追踪研究，重点考察了灾害地区遭受损失的性质。

KEYWORDS:

• Social Work Practice
• Postdisaster
• Loss
• Place

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for this research was received from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Development Grant by way of the RLPD project.