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Kids forgotten in disaster recovery effort

Liz HobdayAAP
Children are deeply affected by disasters and need help to recover afterwards, a report has found.
Camera IconChildren are deeply affected by disasters and need help to recover afterwards, a report has found.

An urgent review of Australia's disaster planning and recovery is needed to ensure children receive more help during and after these events, according to a new report from two children's charities.

The "After the Disaster" report by UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West has found children are not getting enough support to recover from the impacts of disasters such as bushfires and floods.

UNICEF Australia chief executive Tony Stuart says some Australian children have recently experienced drought, fires, floods, and the coronavirus pandemic.

"The effects on children are profound and much deeper than a lot of people realise," he told AAP.

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Yet the report finds children are not identified as a critical vulnerable group in policies or planning around disaster events.

"They don't feel like they are part of our planning, and the irony is they are the first thing we think of protecting," Mr Stuart said.

He says climate change means children are at greater risk of being exposed to more than one disaster in their lifetimes - and the health impacts that result from them.

"Children's mental health issues are on the increase, youth suicide is on the increase," he said.

The report has been launched as parts of NSW are experiencing severe floods, and parts of WA have also been hit by flooding.

The charities call for an urgent review at all levels of government to ensure emergency and disaster policies address the specific needs of children.

The report recommends more funding for mental health programs for children under 12, and establishing a panel of "preferred providers" that can move quickly to give help designed specifically for children.

It cites a growing body of evidence showing an increased risk of poorer mental health outcomes for children affected by bushfires, but says the effects may not emerge until up to three years after the event.

It also finds children from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds may be limited in their capacity to overcome bushfire trauma.

Tens of thousands of children were directly affected by the Black Summer bushfires in 2019-20, with some losing their homes, pets, and possessions.

There are about five-and-a-half million Australians aged under 18, and two thirds of them are under nine years old.

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