Supporting children and families experiencing disaster this summer

Summer in Australia is a time of year that many look forward to, but it also brings a risk of extreme weather, and as a result, disaster hazards such as bushfires, flooding, severe thunderstorms, heatwaves and tropical cyclones.¹

There are many ways that families and communities can prepare to reduce the potential impact of these disasters. While disaster preparedness often focuses on physical safety and recovery, it is important to also consider how to support psychological safety before, during and after disasters.

Practitioners working with infants, children, parents and families throughout disasters can find helpful strategies in our recently released Supporting infants and children in disasters: A practice guide.

This practice guide is a series of resources on child-centred and family-focused approaches in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. It aims to equip practitioners with foundational knowledge and evidence-informed approaches to support infants, children and their families who experience disasters.

These resources have been created to support practitioners across a wide range of sectors, including health services, social and community services, education, first response and emergency services, government, non-government organisations, and community-led initiatives.

Jump in today to explore the guide’s series of topic-based practice papers, which include interviews, practice scenarios, case studies and podcasts.

Acknowledgements

This practice guide is informed by valuable research, practice insights and lived experience of disasters. Emerging Minds would like to thank the professionals and families who had an integral role in shaping this resource along with the Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN) team at Australian National University (ANU). Led by Michelle Roberts, the ACATLGN team’s work contributed significantly to the development of this resource, which Emerging Minds has led since 2023. A full list of acknowledgements can be found on the Emerging Minds website.

References

1. National Emergency Management Agency. (2024, November 28). Media release: Summer bushfire outlook a reminder to plan for all hazards. Australian Government.