This paper outlines the key principles of authentic action research showing how its fundamental philosophy and purpose make it a distinct activity from traditional scientific research. It is particularly suited to inquiry into social situations with self-determining people who can be engaged as co-researchers to produce useful answers to issues relevant to themselves. Action research offers a flexible yet disciplined approach in volatile situations to mobilising traumatised communities towards recovery. It can begin with low-cost self-research to transform reactivity into useful action thereafter engaging others, and ultimately large systems, as co-enquirers.