<p>In this episode I talk to Dr Rob Gordon who has worked for almost 35 years in the area of trauma, disaster and emergencies. He shares his experiences and knowledge and talks about what recovery is, the processes of recovery, the main effects of disasters and emergencies, as well as two main types of stress, adrenalin and cortisol.</p>

Welcome to the ‘Recovery Hour, Life After Disasters and Emergencies’ podcast, with David Younger, Clinical Psychologist. This is a serial podcast that provides helpful information about various aspects of emotional and social recovery following a disaster or emergency, be that natural or man-made. It’s aimed at community members who have been exposed to such an experience, but it will also be of benefit to those professionals and volunteers working in emergency response and recovery.Disasters and emergencies are occurring on a more frequent basis both in Australia and internationally, and it’s just not possible to assume any longer that, ‘it won’t happen to me’. Understanding comes through information and knowledge but most people find that after a disaster or emergency, they are in completely unfamiliar territory. For the past 10 years I have been working in Australia with individuals and communities affected by events such as bushfires, floods, cyclones, drought, and urban events. The aim of this podcast is to create an easy to access source of recovery related information which can then be shared amongst community members.Each episode features a special guest that I will talk to and interview for example, a community member with first hand lived experience, or a professional with a wealth of knowledge drawn from years of assisting and supporting people after disasters and emergencies. Through conversations we will explore topics such as human reactions and responses to trauma, assisting and supporting others through crisis, community functioning, community recovery, the different pathways of recovery, health and wellbeing, resilience, and growth.Thanks for listening and I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast.

#1 Dr Rob Gordon - Clinical Psychologist, Trauma and Disaster Expert