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Young people are uniquely impacted by disasters, often affecting work, study, and the critical resources like phone reception, internet and roads which keep young people connected to their communities.
Find out more about how young people are affected by different disasters below, and resources we have developed to ensure you include and engage young people effectively and meaningfully in disaster response.
Black Summer Grants - Future Proof
A consortium led by Youth Affairs Council Victoria (YACVic) has received a $9.93 million, two-year Australian Government Black Summer Bushfire Recovery grant for ‘Future Proof: Young People, Disaster Recovery and (Re)building Communities’, to drive recovery outcomes for fire-affected young people and communities across eastern Victoria.
YACVic is coordinating this ambitious project, bringing together eight local councils, two Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs), three Local Learning and Employment Networks (LLENs) and Victoria University.
Floods
Mental Health Support
Floods can be immensely stressful and anxious.
Managing your emotions during an emergency can help you think clearly about decisions and ensure you are able to respond quickly and safely.
If you’re a young person impacted by floods, there is support available.
- For help with psychologically preparing for flood: Preparing for Floods, Australian Psychological Society.
- For an online and phone counselling service: Recovering after a national disaster, Lifeline 13 11 14, open 24/7
- For an online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25: Coping with natural disasters, Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800, open 24/7
- For looking after your mental health following a disaster: Beyond Blue
- For coping with the stress of natural disasters: Headspace
- For managing pre-existing mental health issues during a disaster and recovery: Sane Australia
- For understanding trauma through disaster recovery: Sane Australia
- For additional fact sheets and a podcast: Rural Adversity Mental Health Program
- For youth workers: Phoenix Australia
- For additional resources: Live4Life
Bushfires
Our work on bushfires was informed by the YACVic Youth Bushfire Recovery Working Group, consisting of 12 young people aged 12-25, living in rural and regional communities in eastern Victoria impacted by the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Resource: A Seat at the Table
A Seat at the Table: Young People and Disaster Recovery is a guide to meaningful Youth Engagement, Participation, and Inclusion. The resource covers all aspects of youth engagement in disaster response, and includes three double-sided A4 fact-sheets which can be printed and shared.
To request a printed copy of the resources, you can email YACVic Rural Disaster Resilience Programs Coordinator, Carla Hall CHall@YACVic.org.au with your name, organisation and mailing address.
Project Report: Speaking Up
Speaking Up: Young people’s experience of Bushfire and Recovery is the report produced in partnership with the Victorian Government’s Department of Education and Training and Bushfire Recovery Victoria. We consulted and supported young people and community members to document their experience of disaster recovery and response to the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Rural Young Activators 2020/21
The 2020-21 Rural Young Activators are young people aged 15-25 from bushfire-affected communities leading projects and advocacy to support bushfire recovery and animal welfare with support from RSPCA Victoria.
Bushfire resources for Victorians with disability
The disabled community can be particularly vulnerable during bushfires due to a lack of accessible information, emergency housing, vital equipment and many other factors. The Youth Disability Advocacy Service (YDAS) produced this resource to support all Victorians, including young people with disability.
Inspector-General for Emergency Management - Evidence from Experience
The Inspector-General for Emergency Management (IGEM) engaged YACVic in 2020-21 to undertake consultation with young people from fire-affected communities.
The consultation focused on three lines of enquiry:
- What relief and recovery activities that were relevant to young Victorians occurred during and after the 2019-2020 bushfires at the state, regional and local levels?
- To what extent were relief and recovery arrangements and activities, including at a state, regional and incident level, effective from the perspective of young Victorians?
- What opportunities are there to improve current relief and recovery arrangements and practice in Victoria for young Victorians?
The resulting report Evidence from Experience aimed to provide IGEM with data-informed evidence of young people's experiences and perceptions related to the effectiveness of several areas of community-facing relief and recovery.
Youth Focused Disaster Recovery Protocol
The Protocol establishes a framework for Federal, State and Local Government emergency and recovery services and committees, institutions, local youth services, youth workers and others who engage with young people in disaster affected areas. It provides guidance on key matters for consideration and inclusion of young people in post-disaster recovery and rebuilding, and to ensure positive outcomes for young people aged 12-25 who have been affected directly and/or indirectly by a disaster.
COVID-19
COVID-19 has changed everyone’s lives, including young people in disaster-affected communities. We have resources for young people, youth workers and policy-makers to ensure young people aren’t left behind in the pandemic response.
Webinars
VCOSS Disaster Recovery Conversation series: Facilitating the voice of children and young people in disaster recovery.
Contact Us
For any queries, please get in touch with YACVic Rural Disaster Resilience Programs Coordinator, Carla Hall CHall@YACVic.org.au