For those affected by disasters or events, Lifeline's Community Recovery Program provides support, assessments and referrals; immediate psychosocial and ongoing counselling and support to individuals and communities; and financial counselling including referrals for business.

The program aims to make an immediate impact on the trauma and stress experienced by communities through counselling interventions, as well as spearheading longer term recovery through a coordinated approach to rebuilding or re-establishing key community networks and support structures. 

The Community Recovery team is activated at the request of state or local government authorities, or local community leaders in the event of a disaster or critical incident.

Some support can continue for years after a critical incident. Community Recovery Officers have referred those affected to the Crisis Line, and other counselling and support services. Past incidents that the Community Recovery Program has responded to include:

• Cyclone Ului
• South West Queensland floods
• Gold Coast, Brisbane and Central Queensland floods
• Equine Influenza 
• Traveston Dam 
• Cyclone Larry 
• Palm Island riots 
• Q-Rail train derailment 
• Bushfires in places such as Stanthorpe, Toowoomba, Tara  
• Childers Backpacker Hostel fire 
• Black Hawk helicopter disaster in Townsville
   

At present these services are provided by professional staff from a range of fields including social work and psychology, counselling and psychotherapy, as well as highly trained volunteers. To become a Community Recovery Officer, you need to complete the Psychological First Aid training.