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Responding to natural disasters and other traumatic events

Support for early learning services and schools affected by a natural disaster or other traumatic event in the community.
Two young people holding hands
Be You recognises the mental health impacts that natural disasters, pandemics and other traumatic events have on communities, and the role of learning communities in supporting resilience and recovery. The following resources aim to empower learning communities to build resilience for the future.

Wellbeing tools

Educator wellbeing

Educator wellbeing is a key part of a mentally healthy learning community. The Educator wellbeing page offers a range of resources to help you manage your wellbeing and help build a mentally healthy workplace.

Here, you’ll find educator wellbeing tools that can help you reflect on your stressors, promote help-seeking behaviour, and support your wellbeing and that of your colleagues.

Wellbeing Tools for Students

See Wellbeing Tools for Students for a collection of online resources that Be You has compiled for students.

These tools are designed to help young people learn about mental health and wellbeing, and practise the skills to look after their wellbeing. The tools also contain useful strategies for when young people, or their peers, are struggling.

Resources and information

Emerging Minds Community Trauma Toolkit

The Emerging Minds Community Trauma Toolkit is designed for educators working with children and families in areas affected by a natural disaster or other traumatic event in the community. 

Be You Fact Sheets

Learning communities may find the Be You Fact Sheets on grief, trauma and critical incidents helpful.

Stories from learning communities

Read success stories and learn implementation tips from other educators to develop positive, inclusive, and resilient learning communities.

  • Empowering children's voice in disaster recovery
  • How prepared is your learning community for a bushfire or natural disaster?
  • How to notice, inquire and provide support during the natural disaster season
  • Preparing all students for bushfire season
  • Supporting the voice of children and young people during disaster recovery

External resources

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) develops, maintains and shares knowledge and learning to support a disaster-resilient Australia.

The Australian Psychological Society has a range of resources available about natural disasters and other traumatic event in the community.

Sessions and Events

Engage with, and learn from, the Be You team and other educators across Australia through interactive Be You implementation sessions, events and webinars. These informative online events explore aspects of Be You content and other areas of interest.

You can view recordings of sessions, events and webinars about supporting children and young people after a natural disaster, critical incident or other traumatic event in the community, below.

  • A roadmap for recovery following a bushfire
  • Building skills for resilience in disaster recovery
  • Community Trauma
  • Managing wellbeing in times of change and uncertainty (Be You Virtual Conference 2020 - Responding Together)
  • Preparing learning communities for the bushfire season
  • Recognising, reflecting on and responding to grief and loss in a school community
  • Trauma informed practice in your learning community
  • Understanding transitions in the context of disaster recovery and resilience
  • Understanding trauma responses following a bushfire
  • Working with and walking alongside - Protective factors to support communities recovering from adverse experiences

To access all previous sessions and events and to check for upcoming sessions, visit the Be You Sessions and Events page.

Be You Professional Learning

Responding Together

Critical incidents can affect everyone in the learning community.

The Responding Together domain includes three Professional Learning modules on how learning communities can prepare for critical incidents, respond in times of crisis and support recovery following a natural disaster.

  • Recognise: Understand the potential impact of critical incidents.
  • Respond: A collaborative response to critical incidents.
  • Natural disasters: A practical framework and useful strategies for supporting resilence and recovery in learning communities followoing a natural disaster or other traumatic event.

Learn more about Responding Together

Contact us

If you would like to contact Be You, send us a message via our Contact page.

Crisis support information

  • Lifeline: 13 11 14
  • Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line: 13YARN (13 92 76)
  • Beyond Blue Support Service: 1300 22 4636
  • Mental Health Services and Support infographic (654 KB, PDF)

Last updated: February, 2023

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Be You acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land on which we work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend our respect to all Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples across Australia.