New resources to support infants, children and families during disaster

During disasters, infants, children and families may face dangerous, scary and life-threatening situations. Ensuring their physical safety is an obvious first response – but protecting psychological and emotional wellbeing is also critical.

You don’t have to be a mental health specialist to effectively support infants and children during a disaster. We have created a series of critical response resources for those working with infants, children and families in the immediate aftermath.

In the chaos of disaster, using these resources can help to reduce the impacts (immediate, short- and long-term) of disaster on the development, mental health and overall wellbeing of infants and children.

With the right support at the right time, infants and children can recover, adapt and even thrive following a disaster.

These critical response fact sheets are part of Supporting infants and children in disasters: A practice guide. They were developed thanks to the research, work and support of professionals, families and the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN) team, led by Michelle Roberts.