Dear Parent, Guardians and Carers,

Firstly, welcome back to ‘normal’ school! It is lovely to have everyone back onsite together again. To be able to return to our work and businesses and have the capacity to reconnect with each other is great. Thank you for the understanding you showed our staff as they adjusted to online learning last week and then yesterday when they needed to plan for the week back at school. It is not easy to keep changing like this at short notice and our staff are doing an amazing job at coping with this the best they can. Your support is appreciated!

The speed in which decisions are changing at the moment in this COVID world is huge. Like the staff here, you would have been mentally preparing for at least four days of lockdown this week and what that would have meant for you and your family when yesterday’s announcement was made. 

This Special Report I have included below was spearheaded by Child Psychologist Dr Michael Carr-Gregg, and reflects new research and names the uncertainties families and young people are facing. It contains resources that as a family you can access to help support you as we pivot in and out of lockdown.

SPECIAL REPORT: COVID Fatigue & Youth Mental Health - Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg

As the nation remains to be on alert and in various stages of lockdown, restrictions continue to be mandated. And we, as a society, persevere to do the best we can to navigate this post-COVID era. Whilst some of us quietly take comfort from the availability of vaccines, it does introduce new uncertainties for families and young people alike. We continue to remain in a state of suspended animation, wondering when “normal” will return.

The physical impact of the pandemic has mostly spared our young people, however researchers are now reporting that children and adolescents are paying a heavy emotional and developmental price, being affected by a range of psychological disorders. According to Kids Helpline, emergency interventions to protect young people have skyrocketed over the last 12 months.

Being a young person today is hard, but so too is being the parent of one. A recent international survey reported that parents are struggling to keep their child’s mental health afloat. Young people are feeling like they don’t have much control over their lives. Their developmental processes have been interfered with and their trajectory has been interrupted. Unfortunately the emotional blowback of the pandemic cannot be vaccinated away. Young people can’t choose what happens to them, but they can choose how to respond. Some websites to assist with this are:

Calm Kids Central

https://www.calmkidcentral.com/   (videos, online access to psychologists, articles)

Brave Program

https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/

If your young person wishes to talk to someone outside of the family unit, encourage them to call Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 - anytime, any reason. Alternatively, they can chat online at kidshelpline.com.au

Kids Helpline has also created some resources specifically relating to this topic for young people who may be struggling during lockdown. Click here to find out more.

I also received the following advice from Community Engagement and Financial Counselling Australia that free financial counselling is available through the National Debt Helpline (NDH) and Small Business Debt Helpline (SBDH). Financial counsellors provide independent and confidential advice to people who are struggling with debt and bills. They are thoughtful and kind professionals who are dedicated to getting people back on track financially.

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns are having an enormous effect on children, parents and teachers. For many, the impact is also financial due to the loss of income or business closures. These two national not-for-profit services run free financial counselling helplines and chat services, to help individuals and small businesses cope with financial hardship.

Take care of yourselves and your families, 

Kind regards

Jodie