Bushfire Response

Relief: UNICEF Australia partnered with established local NGOs to provide a Back to School package for children most affected by the bushfires. This program was rolled out in January to ensure children could return to school ready to learn. The relief package included uniforms, textbooks, learning devices (e.g. laptop, iPad, or tablet) and stationery.

Recovery: UNICEF is working to ensure children affected by the bushfires receive appropriate psychosocial and mental health support. The bushfires primarily affected rural and remote communities where mental health services are often not available, and many communities were already dealing with the effects of drought. UNICEF Australia is working with partners to provide these services, as well as deliver training for existing local education, health, and community service providers to strengthen their ability respond to the needs of children and support recovery. 

Rehabilitation: UNICEF Australia is creating appropriate platforms for young people who have been directly affected by the fires to come together to share their experiences and frame solutions for future events. This aims to contribute to wellbeing of young people by countering a sense of isolation; and to ensure the perspectives of children and young people are heard by decision makers and the wider community, and help shape public policy.