Children and Youth

Preparation and recovery from disasters for children and youth.

Information to help families prepare children and young people for emergencies such as bushfires, storms, and floods. It provides the knowledge to stay safe and be prepared.

If you live in a high-risk, disaster-prone area like the Adelaide Hills, being prepared for an emergency is crucial. Being ready helps you make smart decisions for your children when faced with danger such as bushfires, storms, floods and heatwaves. Every step you take to prepare can keep you and your children safe.

Involving children and young people in creating a disaster plan can reduce their fears and empower them.

Honest conversations about preparedness can ease their worries and equip them with essential skills to handle challenging situations. Engaging in planning also teaches them about emergencies, which is especially important for those in bushfire-prone areas like the Adelaide Hills.

Preparation resources for parents, children and young people

Emergency resilience in children means being able to manage emotions and behaviour during emergencies.

Being mentally prepared helps build this. Talk together about emergencies, practice staying calm, and plan ahead. When parents stay calm, children feel safer too.

Resources and tools to build children's resilience and wellbeing

Resources and tools to build young people's resilience and wellbeing

Plan where to go if there's a bushfire by knowing your local bushfire safer places and learn about flood risk at your property or other places of interest.

Emergencies and disasters are very stressful, and it's normal to feel overwhelmed. Children, even babies, can feel this stress too. They rely on adults for safety and comfort, and they need reassurance, care, and an opportunity to talk about their feelings.

Children and young people who go through challenging events can recover well without ongoing problems. However, some may need professional help to cope with these challenges.

Knowing when to seek support can be difficult. Seek support if your child is struggling for more than a few months following an event and it's affecting their quality of life.

Mental health helplines and websites

Information and resources

These useful tips have been gathered from experts online to protect you, your family, your home, and your pets. We acknowledge the time, skill and research these organisations have invested.