After catastrophic floods and a monsoon hit Queensland, some farmers could not access emergency counselling because piles of dead livestock blocked the way into town.
Other flood and bushfire survivors told National Mental Health Commission researchers about panic attacks long after disaster struck, of feeling frustrated and isolated while dealing with government agencies, and forgotten when COVID-19 lockdowns hit.
These stories about the added trauma of dealing with temporary and complicated support services are behind the federal government's National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework, which is being launched on Wednesday morning.
The framework, which began development after Black Summer and was included in Labor's May budget, aims to provide a nationally consistent approach to mental health care after emergencies.
It recommends ways to build communities' resilience for future disasters, including coming up with five-year plans for mental health support, long term outreach through local events and upskilling "accidental counsellors" like stock agents, vets and accountants.
"The mental health impacts of disasters can be long-lasting and will become more significant as these events increase in the future," Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said in a statement.
"We need to make sure we are pulling together all the support we can nationally to assist people at risk of, or experiencing, distress and mental ill-health following a major disaster event."
The framework said while many rush to help during emergencies, recovery was usually complicated by different levels of government operating across jurisdictions.
"Often the aftermath of a disaster, including the economic and social disruption and the stress associated with locating help, can be as challenging as the impact of the disaster itself," the document said.
It said councils should focus on access to evacuation centres and encouraging locals to plan for communications and transport outages, while health districts must develop emergency response strategies.
State and territories should adopt five-year plans for mental health care to extend services beyond the initial aftermath of a disaster and ensure hospitals can offer continuity.
The federal government would also adopt long-term planning and improve health access through greater flexibility under Medicare.
Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Emma McBride, said it was critical for all governments to work together.
"The mental health impacts of natural disasters and emergencies are well known and have been felt acutely by many Australians," Ms McBride said.
"The framework is about planning for and managing emergencies to make sure people get the mental health support they need, where and when they need it."
