The bushfires that have ravaged communities around Australia from late 2019 continue to devastate Australians and raise many issues for them and the international community. Although Australia is prone to bushfire, the massive fuel loads, the vastness of the fire zones – some with their own weather systems – the voraciousness of the fires that […]
Emergency response drills require regular practice Schools have an obligation to provide a safe environment for children, staff, volunteers and visitors. Careful preparation, planning and regular practice drills are designed to equip staff to react quickly and calmly, to act in a coordinated and thoughtful manner and to minimize the risk of harm to all […]
It’s National child protection week. If you work in a school this is a good time to share information with your students about being safe, how to seek help, and who to seek help from if needed. Discussing protective behaviours is one way to do this. Protective Behaviours are based on two main concepts: Everyone has […]
By Psychologist Alison Soutter, Psych4Schools Guest Blogger Children who worry about what might happen when they get home or who are having flashbacks to terrible events from the past can understandably find it difficult to learn. The effects of trauma (which can include frightening thoughts or flashbacks) can undermine children’s concentration, memory, organisation, language development, […]
By Psychologist Alison Soutter, Psych4Schools Guest Blogger There is such a strong nexus between drug and alcohol issues, domestic violence and harm to children. People who are drunk or drug affected most days or who live in fear are unlikely to be able to provide the care infants and young children need. For many children […]
By Psychologist Alison Soutter, Psych4Schools Guest Blogger In almost every school there are children suffering from trauma. Often teachers will be unaware that children have experienced or witnessed traumatic incidents, in particular the many children who are affected by domestic violence. These children may have witnessed violence, been injured while trying to intervene and/or been […]
By Psychologist Alison Soutter, Psych4Schools Guest Blogger A trauma is a psychologically distressing event that overwhelms a person’s coping ability and convinces them they are about to experience serious injury or death. It can undermine a person’s trust in the world and have ongoing effects. In most classrooms there are children who are suffering from […]
Children who experience or witness a traumatic event typically suffer from intense emotional, physical, and/or psychological distress. Traumatic events include a serious accident, a natural disaster, a physical attack, war, or other extremely stressful event that threatens the child’s safety. At school the child may behave differently such as becoming withdrawn or angry; having difficulty […]