Natural disasters such as a bushfire or a flood have the power to impact employees across our organisation including those living in communities who were directly impacted, as well as others who were never in the vicinity of the event. Some people will experience grief and anxiety as a response to personal loss, while others may be sensitive to the relentless media coverage. If members of your team appear to be experiencing heightened levels of stress in the aftermath of a natural disaster, please refer to the leader guide for how to effectively manage stress in your team.


We want to give our employees access to all the resources they need to provide support in the aftermath of a natural disaster. This includes access to resources, debriefing counselling, leave and flexible working arrangements. This can be arranged by your manager or through EAP/WAP.
 

Helpful resources

Access the Psychological Safety in a National Emergency SharePoint Site for relevant safety and wellbeing information to help you and your team stay mentally well in the event of a national emergency such as a bushfire or flood.

Employee and Manager packs housed on the SharePoint Site contain the following information:

  • Typical emotional, psychological and physiological responses to trauma.
  • Strategies to manage stress, anxiety and fatigue triggered by a critical incident.
  • Steps to physically and emotionally prepare for bushfire season
  • Information via Manager Assist available to provide free support to people leaders/managers.
     

 

If you have experienced a traumatic event it can be helpful to talk to a professional. The Employee Assistance and Workforce Program (EAP/WAP) is a professional coaching and counselling service provided by psychologists and management coaches, that offers free and confidential, short-term support for those impacted by a critical incident or traumatic event.

Accessing support in the event of a critical incident

In the event that your team or a team member has been involved in or witnessed a critical/traumatic incident including but not limited to: an armed hold up/burglary, staff assault, injury, accident or mental-illness, as a manager you are able to arrange an onsite visit from EAP/WAP.

Types of onsite support

  • Crisis telephone counselling (group/individual) within 20 minutes of initial call.
  • Crisis teleconference counselling (Zoom for group/individual) within 20 minutes of initial call.
  • Crisis face to face onsite counselling (group/ individual) within 2-24 hours of initial call, time dependent on team location.

 

Arranging an onsite visit from EAP/WAP

  1. Consult the Manager Guidelines for engaging with EAP/WAP Following a Critical Incident.
  2. Call 1300 687 327 (1300 our EAP)
  3. You will be required to provide Converge with the following details:
    • Your company name
    • Your name
    • Job title
    • Business Unit (e.g. Network Operations)
    • Contact details
    • A brief description of the incident and the number of people impacted
    • The type of critical incident support service you require 
    • The time/date the service is required.

Applying for Natural Disaster Support Payment

The Australia Post Group (Group) is committed to providing support and assistance to members of our workforce who have been directly impacted by a natural disaster (such as bushfires, floods or cyclones). Natural Disaster Support also extends to civil disasters, such as the collapse of a building.

Eligibility

Direct employees of the Group (including permanent full-time, permanent part-time and fixed-term employees), contractors and licensees (and employees and subcontractors of contractors and licensees) who perform services on behalf of the Group, are all eligible to apply for the Natural Disaster Support Payment. Only one person per household will be eligible for the Natural Disaster Support Payment. 

Refer to the Natural DIsaster Support Policy for more information.

Application

Step 1:  Affected APG Employees (or their leaders if required) complete this form
Affected EXWF Employees complete this form

Step 2: form is returned to Territory/Area Manager to be reviewed and signed and shared with General Manager for approval

Step 3: Territory/ Area Manager or General Manager submits completed and approved form via the People Services Portal (note the submitter will need to be an APG employee to access the portal). To help ensure this application is processed as quickly as possible, please submit via the Pay service and then select Application > Natural Disaster Support Payment.

Step 4: P&C will check eligibility for the payment as per the Policy. Once approved, P&C will issue a letter to the applicant once processed.