Children can experience trauma for up to five years after a disaster and the symptoms often remain hidden for a long time, according to new report findings.
Royal Far West and UNICEF Australia launched the joint Children's Needs Assessment report on Wednesday at Wardell — one of the northern New South Wales communities hit hard by the flood events in February and March last year.
The report is the first step in a $4.5-million program to support the mental health and well-being of children under 12 across 30 schools and preschools in flood-ravaged towns across the Northern Rivers and south-east Queensland.
"We know, when a disaster event happens, it's so critical that children get the right support at the right time," said UNICEF Australia's chief advocate for children, Nicole Breeze.
"But what inadvertently can happen — sometimes — is children's needs are overlooked," she said.
The effects of disaster events like bushfires and floods on children can stay hidden for years and emerge slowly over time, Ms Breeze said.
"The research also shows that with the right supports around them, children can recover and continue on their trajectory and life course," she said.
"But, without the right supports, there is a risk of sustaining long-term impacts."
Anxiety, learning difficulties, meltdowns
The report found that the Northern Rivers flood events in February and March last year left an estimated 4,000 NSW children requiring intensive support.
The report's key findings show that children who lived through the natural disaster now have heightened anxiety during rainy weather and often display an unwillingness to be separated from their parents when it's raining.
Teachers are also observing an increase in disruptive behaviour when it rains.
The report found that children who had no previous behavioural issues have developed issues including difficulties with concentration and learning and are more withdrawn.
The chief executive of children's charity Royal Far West, Jacqueline Emery, says it can be difficult for children who have experienced traumatic disaster events to engage in learning.
"Children who used to love the rain are now very anxious when they hear the rain [and] they can have meltdowns," she said.
"Often we see them completely shut out of learning until they've actually had that opportunity to process what they've been through."
Trauma support 'for the long haul'
Wardell resident and counsellor Michelle Henry says is a definite need for trauma support in young people.
"I've seen very distressed children," she said.
"I've seen relationships change in families from stress, which is creating an enormous amount of stress for the children.
"The issues are so broad, and the spectrum is so enormous that it's a really huge issue to know where to start."
The report findings are guiding a post-disaster well-being program for children, which will be rolled out later this term in affected schools.
Royal Far West has a team of highly trained social workers, psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists who will be participating in the program, Ms Emery says.
"Our team will be visiting communities once a week, every term, working in group programs on the ground in schools," she said.
Royal Far West will also be running workshops for teachers and parents, as well as individual therapy sessions via telehealth for students who need more intensive support.
"We're here for the long haul," Ms Emery said.
"We hope to stay as long as it takes to get these kids back on the road to recovery."
