Who we are

The Synod of New South Wales and the ACT Disaster Recovery Committee works to ensure that the Uniting Church provides vital pastoral care to people when disaster strikes.

It helps the Uniting Church community in New South Wales and the ACT by:

  • Preparing it to assist in caring for individuals and communities affected by disasters including floods, bushfire, drought, storms and other calamities.
  • Providing training to increase understanding of disaster recovery.
  • Developing and implementing the Synod Disaster Recovery Plan.

Committee Members

The Synod of New South Wales and the ACT Disaster Response Committee is chaired by the Moderator of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT, the Rev. Niall Reid and convened by the Rev. Stephen Robinson. The Synod Secretariat provides administrative assistance and the committee is supported by disaster response contact people in each presbytery.

Other committee members are: Rev Paul Drury, Rev Kel Hodge, Rev Miriam Parker-Lacey, Rev Alan Lowe, Rev Mary Pearson, Rev Glen Renton, Rev Peter Robinson, Rev Stephen Robinson, Ms Julie Greig, Mr Rob Buchan, Mr Jon Hoogland.

Achievements

Since its formation in 1991 the Synod Disaster Response Committee has:

  • Trained and supported Presbytery Disaster Contact people.
    Conducting annual training days, providing information, guidelines and introductions to the relevant disaster welfare and emergency personnel services coordinators in cooperation with police, fire and hospital chaplains.
  • Monitored the functioning of the Synod’s Disaster Recovery Plan. Checking how the plan functioned in large-scale and sub-disaster incidents throughout New South Wales and the ACT — including the Canberra bushfires, drought, floods, storms, transport accidents, the Thredbo landslip disaster, the Sydney hailstorm and the Kosovar refugee emergency.
  • Educated and informed the church. Keeping Presbyteries, Moderators and others up-to-date on matters relating to pastoral care in disasters. Liaised with other Presbyteries and Synods to help them to take appropriate supportive action and reporting back to the Synod on the effectiveness of the Church’s response.
  • Consulted with government and other disaster welfare organisations.
  • Represented the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT at the annual Assembly National Disaster Recovery Consultations, bringing a pastoral perspective to the Assembly Disaster Fund Trustees’ financial administration.

 

What we do

The Uniting Church is committed to responding compassionately to addressing the long and short-term needs of disaster-affected people through:

• Working within the State Disaster Response plan to provide practical and pastoral support

• Providing ongoing pastoral care

• Ensuring appropriate information is available

• Working as an advocate to ensure access to specialist support, services and resources which will enable people to manage and sustain their own recovery.

In recent years, the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT Disaster Recovery Committee has responded to numerous crises.

These have included:

• The bushfires of Christmas/New Year 2001-2002 in the Blue Mountains, Far South Coast, Helensburgh,Warragamba Silverdale localities.

• Canberra fires January 2003.

• Waterfall derailment January 2003.

• The ongoing drought in New South Wales.

• Storms in the Hunter region and Central Coast of New South Wales (June 2007) caused extensive flooding, damage and some loss of life.