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Supporting infants and children in disasters: A practice guide

Australian families and communities are experiencing more disasters than ever before, leading to a higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes for our infants and children. But by offering the right support at the right time, every practitioner can make a difference.

It is essential that everyone who works with infants, children, parents and families is prepared to support them in planning and preparing for disasters, as well as responding and recovering afterwards.

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 during and after disasters, and promote their long-term healing and wellbeing.

This practice guide is for anyone who is, or may in the future be, supporting infants, children, parents and/or families who experience a disaster.

This includes practitioners, workers, leaders and volunteers across a wide range of sectors such as:

  • health services
  • social and community services
  • education
  • first response and emergency services
  • government (policymaking and agencies and services)
  • non-government organisations and community-led initiatives.

Jump in and explore the guide’s series of topic-based practice papers which include video interviews with practitioners, researchers and parents with lived experience; actor-based and written practice scenarios; audio case studies; and podcasts with families.

Together, we can make a difference for infants, children and families Australia-wide.

 

For an overview of what’s covered in each practice paper, download the following.

Acknowledgements

This practice guide is informed by valuable research, practice insights and lived experience of disaster. 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. A full list of acknowledgements can be found on the Emerging Minds website.

  • Crisis resources for disaster response workers supporting infants, children and families

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

    Read more

Select from the following disaster topics:

Disaster resources for families

These resources have been specifically developed to help parents and carers to support children in preparing for, experiencing and recovering from floods, bushfires and drought.

  • Community Trauma Toolkit

    Explore more tools for supporting children and families who experience disasters in our Community Trauma Toolkit.

    Community Trauma Toolkit

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