Discover more resources
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Practice paper
Wellbeing for workers supporting children and families after a disaster
Emerging MindsThis resource focuses on how to look after your own wellbeing as a practitioner or worker when supporting children and families after a disaster. -
Practice paper
Play and creative expression
Emerging MindsThis resource demonstrates the importance of encouraging play and creative expression to help children unpack, explore and process difficult experiences like disaster. Creative expression is encouraged as a way for children to communicate about complex emotions and feelings, especially when they might be difficult to articulate verbally -
Practice paper
Support networks
Emerging MindsIn addition to the support of extended family, friends and the learning community, responses from governments and specialist mental health services plus digital resources are important to the successful recovery of children and families after a disaster. -
Practice paper
Routines and predictability
Emerging MindsRe-establishing routines and setting boundaries and expectations are important for restoring children's sense of stability and safety after a disaster, especially when they have to spend time away from their parents or home. -
Practice paper
Emotional regulation
Emerging MindsThis resource explains the importance of connection, emotional literacy and environment in helping children feel safe, and how regulation can be achieved through the body using sensory- and movement-based exercises, along with fun, relaxing and mindfulness activities. -
Practice paper
Child–adult relationships
Emerging MindsFollowing a disaster it's common for children to experience increased separation anxiety. This resources explores how parents can help children to develop safe relationships with other caring adults. -
Practice paper
Communication and meaning-making
Emerging MindsThis resource offers strategies to support children in making sense of their experiences and process their feelings to help reduce distress, and prevent trauma and mental health difficulties. -
Practice paper
Practices for supporting infant and child mental health after disasters
Emerging MindsThis paper provides practice guidance for addressing the immediate and long-term impacts of disasters on infant and child mental health using multifaceted approaches that promote resilience and mental health recovery. -
Practice paper
Working with parents to support children after disasters
Emerging MindsThis resource focuses on how practitioners can support children after disasters. It identifies strategies for engaging with parents and using a holistic approach that recognises and tailors support to each family’s unique needs, to enhance the wellbeing, resilience and recovery of infants and children who experience disasters. -
Practice paper
Understanding how disasters influence infants and children
Emerging MindsThis practice paper aims to equip practitioners with knowledge about the ways disasters can influence a child’s ecology and the importance of targeted support for children’s resilience and recovery in the short and long term. -
Webinar
Child-centred approaches to supporting children in out-of-home care
Child Family Community Australia & Emerging MindsCo-produced with Child Family Community Australia (CFCA), this webinar outlines practical ways to prioritise the voices of children in OOHC that can support their mental health and wellbeing. It includes perspectives and advice specific to those working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children. -
Practice paper
Why we need to support infants and children before, during and after disasters
Emerging MindsInfants and children rely on the adults around them to meet their needs, keep them safe and help them to make sense of their world. This puts them at greater risk of adverse impacts when a disaster occurs. This practice paper introduces the foundational knowledge and skills needed to support children and families at all stages of a disaster (preparedness, response and recovery).