Browsing by Author "Collins S"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Community engagement post-disaster: Case studies of the 2006 Matata debris flow and 2010 Darfield earthquake, New Zealand
    (The New Zealand Psychological Society, 2011) Collins S; Glavovic B; Johal S; Johnston D; Fitzgerald, J; O'Connor, F; Evans, IM
    Engagement and participation are terms used to describe important processes in a democratic society. However, the definition and understanding of these terms is broad and varied. In a disaster context, community engagement and participation are recognised as important processes to support individual and community recovery. What these terms mean, who is responsible for leading engagement, and the processes that are to be used, are important issues that need to be clarified at the onset of recovery, if not before. Despite this, there are often barriers to community members being involved in the recovery process as active and valued participants. These include governance structures that do not adequately recognise the spectrum of community engagement and the power dynamics of information sharing and decision-making. This article discusses two New Zealand case studies where engagement activities were put in place to contribute to the communities’ post disaster recovery.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Psychosocial recovery from disasters: A framework informed by evidence
    (The New Zealand Psychological Society, 2011) Mooney MF; Paton D; de Terte I; Johal S; Karanci AN; Gardner D; Collins S; Glavovic B; Huggins TJ; Johnston L; Chambers R; Johnston D; Fitzgerald, J; O'Connor, F; Evans, IM
    Following the Canterbury earthquakes, The Joint Centre for Disaster Research (JCDR), a Massey University and Geological and Nuclear Science (GNS Science) collaboration, formed a Psychosocial Recovery Advisory Group to help support organisations involved in the recovery process. This advisory group reviews and summarises evidence-based research findings for those who make requests for such information. Extensive experience within the group adds a practitioner perspective to this advice. This article discusses the definition of psychosocial recovery used by the group to date, and the group’s view that psychosocial recovery involves easing psychological difficulties for individuals, families/whānau and communities, as well as building and bolstering social and psychological well-being. The authors draw on a brief discussion of this literature to make practical suggestions for psychosocial recovery.