by Women who became pregnant in the immediate aftermath of northern river flooding were subjected to violence and sexual assault due to a lack of triage and separation at emergency centres, according to research from Newcastle University.
The report which examined health and well-being after the floods also found that women have stepped into leadership roles and used social media and the power of the community to help Lismore and surrounding areas over the past two years.
Lead author and social worker, Associate Professor Wendy Foote, said despite the immediate horrors, the short- and long-term recovery efforts where the New South Wales government and agencies failed had largely been led by women. emergency.
Related: More than 18 months after NSW floods, families with damaged homes still stuck in red tape
“We had the most amazing women who not only filled that space, that void, but they did it in the most professional and comprehensive way,” she said.
Co-author of the report Professor Margaret Alston said women had historically been “burdened with the burden of labor and the health consequences of disasters” and that this also happened in Lismore.
“That’s not to diminish the efforts of men in these circumstances but it can be because of the nurturing or support roles that women often take on in response to trauma,” she said.
“In this case, the imbalance in workload, threats to self and property impact and trauma were extremely gendered. Women undertook most of the unpaid work in the immediate response and remained in support roles for long periods after the initial emergency.”
Women were “prominent in their spontaneous organizing” and “women-led organizing was sophisticated and valuable to the community”, the study found.
Despite the success of women’s leadership after the initial floods, the researchers found that women were unsafe in emergency shelters in early 2022.
They recommend that emergency services establish triage systems when people first arrive at shelters and provide separate rooms for women and children in evacuation centers to keep them safe.
“The support provided by setting up evacuation centers was critical to establishing shelter, however, participants described unmanaged risks,” the researchers found.
“Due to a lack of triaging to create separate sections women and children were sharing spaces with perpetrators of domestic violence, sex offenders and those recovering from addiction.
“Participants reported gender-based violence and sexual assault resulting in pregnancy. Lack of access to pharmacies or contraceptive services and inaccessible abortion services were noted as a problem.”
Seven of the 24 participants in the study reported knowing about sexual assaults that had occurred in the shelters. “These experiences were affected by the shock and trauma of the flood,” the study found.
“Participants in professional roles reported that the evacuation center was not safe for their clients, assaults occurred there and the police were called every night.”
It was found that there had been some improvement when a representative from the Department of Community and Justice (DCJ) arrived and “brought some order to the chaos”.
NSW chief executive Chris Minns said on Tuesday his government was taking the allegations seriously.
“It’s a very disturbing report – it will be fully investigated by the NSW government,” he said.
“We are serious about it at the highest levels of government. If there is a criminal justice response [needed] of course that will be sent. We’re trying to make sure we learn lessons.”
The department said it was “deeply concerned” by the results of the Newcastle University research.
“Women and children deserve to be safe at all times, but especially after emergencies,” a spokesman said on Tuesday.
“The NSW government will be reviewing these important recommendations and ensuring that the safety of women and children is embedded in emergency responses, from rescue to recovery.”
NSW Police said they had a “24-hour presence at the evacuation center from early March 2022”. Lismore floods peaked in late February.
The force could not confirm anecdotal reports of attacks and would not confirm whether they had been called to the center several times before the one-hour cover was set.
Leesa Mór councilor and executive director of community organization Resilient Lismore, Elly Bird, said women were doing the heavy lifting for many months after the floods.
“Women came forward, speaking for their communities, organizing to try to get support for their communities. Disasters create opportunities for leadership while there is so much to do and leadership is emerging.”
Researchers also highlighted the role social media played in helping people before and during the floods and the importance of these networks afterwards, citing Resilient Lismore and the Koori Mail.
“As the crisis unfolded, the role of social media changed and changed from warning of impending flooding, to providing information… to assisting and facilitating resources in the post-emergency period ,” read the report.
Researchers have recommended that women, Indigenous Australians and vulnerable people be heard more during disaster management planning and during crises.
• Information and support is available from the following organizations for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse issues. In Australia, support is available at 1800Respect (1800 737 732). In the UK, Rape Crisis offers support on 0808 500 2222. In the US, Rape Crisis offers support on 800-656-4673. Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html
