Contents & Abstracts Volume 18, Number 2

The Australasian Journal of Disaster
and Trauma Studies
ISSN:  1174-4707
Volume : 18, Number 2

This journal publication has been revised and is now presented as a series of individual PDF files as linked below.
The complete issue can also be retrieved as a single PDF file.

Contents page -Volume 18, Number 2

Papers

How People Affected by Disaster Use the Internet: A study of Facebook Usage during the 2014 Hazelwood Mine Fire in Victoria
Dr Owen Kulemeka

Keywords: social media, Australia, China, Facebook, fire

This study examined how people affected by a 2014 mine fire in the Australian state of Victoria utilised Facebook. The aim was to ascertain if there are certain common things people affected by disasters do on the Internet regardless of where they live, what Internet tool they are using, or type of disaster they are facing. Content analysis was done on a Facebook page about a Victoria mine fire to determine if it was used in a manner similar to how an Internet forum was used following a 2008 earthquake in China. Results revealed that the Facebook page was used to share information, seek information, criticise, express anger, show support, and in other ways similar to how the Chinese Internet forum was used. These findings reveal that commonalities may exist in the way people use the Internet in response to disasters. This illustrates the need to develop a model of how people use the Internet in disasters and test the model by examining disasters in various countries.

The Emotional Impact of the February 2011 Christchurch Earthquake on the Junior Doctor workforce
Dr Dale Sheehan, Dr John Thwaites, Dr Blair York & Dr Jaejin Lee

Keywords: Disaster, Medicine, Narrative, Thematic analyses

On the 22nd of February 2011, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, New Zealand. The events of February 2011, the preceding and the thousands of aftershocks have had a devastating effect on those living in the region including the junior doctor workforce. The purpose of this study was to document and describe new graduate doctors personal and professional experience of the Christchurch earthquakes. As phenomenological research, this paper seeks to describe the lived experience of the junior doctor workforce who experienced the event. This article focuses on the analysis of qualitative data generated as part of a larger mixed method study designed to capture the experience of this defined cohort of front line junior staff. A phenomenological approach was used to analyse qualitative data from survey and in-depth interviews to allow the experiences of participants to be described. Qualitative data from the survey and thematic analysis of the narratives suggest that few were emotionally prepared for the events of February. Seven themes were identified and from these we have prepared a composite narrative to demonstrate themes in the language of those interviewed. The individual experience of the earthquakes had a significant impact on individuals, their emotional well-being, living circumstances, work, and learning and for some, their career direction. This study provides an insight into the experiences and reminds us of the personal impact of disaster on a workforce. We hope it can contribute to and maybe generate interest within the health research community, in further exploring these kinds of experiences.

All papers are protected under the Creative Commons attribution as per our copyright notice.