Housing displacement experiences following major flooding in regional Australia: A qualitative study of online news articles

Background: The health impacts of flood displacement are increasingly acknowledged within broader literature. However, there remains limited research on the challenges of accessing post-flood accommodation and how these influence health and wellbeing, particularly mental health. This study explores the nature and extent of media reporting on 1) the experiences of people displaced from their homes and 2) the influence of accommodation access on physical and mental health and wellbeing, following a major flood in regional Australia. We then reflect on how accurately media reporting reflects broader research available regarding the impacts of flood displacement upon various population groups. Methods: We conducted a novel qualitative study of online news articles on displacement following flooding in Lismore, Australia in 2022. Relevant articles published over two years were identified through database searches. Data were inductively analysed using content analysis. Results: The search yielded seventy-one online news articles which met the inclusion criteria. Poor mental health outcomes were associated with displacement, stemming from reports of traumatisation, distress and feeling “in limbo.” Online news articles reported on experiences of various emergency, short-term and long-term housing measures, and insights into the factors which influence housing related decision-making across these time periods in flood-affected communities. This includes utilisation of formal government programs, and informal housing arrangements which may not be captured in formal reporting. There was a relative lack of attention to the experiences of the most severely affected groups and their needs. Conclusion: We found that news reporting highlights the deleterious influence of flood displacement on health, which supports existing literature. However, there appears to be limited focus on challenges faced by priority populations within news reporting. Results indicate that poor mental health outcomes in displaced people may be improved through enhanced communication and collaboration between communities and governments during flood recovery and disaster displacement planning.