What We Do / Our Initiatives
Thriving Kids in Disasters (TKiD)
Purpose
To enhance Queensland’s prevention, preparedness, response and recovery strategies to support child wellbeing and resilience in disasters.
Partners
Thriving Kids in Disasters (TKiD) is an initiative of the Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership and The John Villiers Trust (JVT). TKiD has brought together stakeholders from a variety of sectors, organisations, and locations to join a collaborative coalition aimed at better gearing our systems to support the needs of infants, children and young people in the face of escalating disaster impacts.
TKiD report contributing organisations
54 Reasons
Act for Kids
Adelaide Hills Council
Australian Breastfeeding Association
Australian National University
Benevolent Society
Blue Gum TV
BUSHkids
Centacare FNQ
Community Plus
Yeronga Community Centre
CQUniversity
Creative Recovery Network
Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities & the Arts
Emerging Minds
Head to Health Brisbane
Headspace Capalaba, Wesley Mission Australia
Ipswich City Council
Laidley Community Centre
Leadrrr
Lockhart River Aboriginal Shire Council
MacKillop Seasons
Nikki Trigell Consulting
Outback Futures
Pathways to Resilience
Queensland Centre for Perinatal Infant Mental Health, Children’s Health Queensland
Queensland Department of Education
Queensland Fire and Emergency Service
Queensland Mental Health Commission
Queensland Police Service
Queensland Reconstruction Authority – Get Ready Queensland
Queensland University of Technology
RACQ
Red Cross Australia
Red Earth Community Foundation
ROBSET Consultancy
Royal Far West
Southern Downs Regional Council
Toowoomba Regional Council
UNICEF Australia
University of Melbourne
University of Queensland
University of Western Sydney
Yarra Ranges Council
Yourtown
“The needs of young Queenslanders are always diverse, unique and complex, and this is no less true in the face of disasters. But fulfilling them is a challenge which can be met, with the right focus and the will to act. A concerted effort is required across all levels of Queensland society, and crucially, from the decision-makers at the top. Young Queenslanders rely on our state’s leadership to act, by seizing opportunities like those presented in this report and pursuing them with real commitment, recognising their necessity.”
Ryan Salle, Youth Participant, QFCC Youth Summit
Let's focus on how disasters impact infants, children and youth
As Australia’s most disaster-prone state, Queenslanders are no strangers to the increasingly severe, complex and frequent impacts of adverse weather events.
We know children and young people are disproportionately impacted by – but often invisible in – disaster management settings, despite the best intentions of those involved.
When we consider kids as distinct and unique stakeholders in all aspects of disaster management, we can tap into their agency and enhance their sense of safety and connection, minimising the likelihood of trauma and reducing negative long-term impacts.
What we're already achieving
In Phase 1 we asked ‘How might we better gear our systems in Queensland to support the resilience and wellbeing of infants, children, and young people in disasters?’.
Together we’ve synthesised the evidence and drawn on the wisdom of our eco-system to create the:
The work highlighted that children’s wellbeing has often been overlooked by adults in how to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from disasters, and offers important (often relatively simple) recommendations for how we can do better.
We now have an evidence base that tells us:
- what kids need in the context of disasters
- what the system is doing well
- where we might enhance our approach and the next steps required to enable systems change.
Phase 2 - turning recommendations into action
Thanks to additional funding from The John Villiers Trust, in the second half of 2024, we moved on to the implementation of the report’s recommendations.
We’re doing this by:
Amplifying
We hosted a series of briefings for senior federal, state and local government decision makers and philanthropic and corporate stakeholders to shine a light on current opportunities to expand policy focus and funding support for child wellbeing and resilience in disasters.
Catalysing
A TKiD Leadership Alliance of systems leaders representing NGOs, government, research and philanthropy is translating the TKiD Phase 1 principles and recommendations into an Action Plan comprised of funding-ready propositions for delivery. This small and agile group
is committed to:
- Working collaboratively and showing up for all Queensland kids
- Innovating a TKiD Action Plan and developing project ideas aimed at improving child wellbeing and resilience in disasters
- Supporting other TKiD Alliance members by sharing information, resourcing opportunities and ideas to foster a collaborative environment to explore, test and scale ideas.
Involving
Three Community Engagements across Queensland are drawing on the knowledge and lived experience of children, young people and caregivers to:
- Inform development of the TKiD Action Plan
- Increase linkages in local places between young people, caregivers and community
leaders involved in disaster management.
Learning
A webinar series translating ‘Words into Practice’ is sharing current high quality resources and best practice approaches to child, family and youth practitioners, place-based leaders and disaster management operators to:
- Amplify the impact and reach of currently available approaches, programs and resources
- Increase awareness of child-centric approaches to disaster management
- Provide practical knowledge to enable child, family and youth services to engage in disaster management effectively.
Risk of disasters for Queensland children
- Of all Australian states and territories, Queensland is the most prone to disasters, having experienced 100+ significant events since 2011.
- Kids in rural and regional areas are up to eight times more likely to experience a natural disaster than their city counterparts. In remote areas it is up to 16 times.
- 100% of Queensland’s Local Government Areas have been activated under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements since 2021, with 1.6 million children and young people impacted.
- According to UNICEF, worldwide, kids are recognised as the population group most at risk during disasters.
How you can get involved
If you’d like to be actively involved in the Thriving Kids in Disasters initiative, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact Jacinta Perry on jacinta.perry@aracy.org.au.
Related links & documents
DOWNLOAD
Thriving Kids in Disasters Report
The first comprehensive review of how the wellbeing of children is included in disaster management in Queensland. Compiled in collaboration with 40+ organisations and offering 38 recommendations.
PDF 1.5MB
DOWNLOAD
Thriving Kids in Disasters SUMMARY Report
A condensed 16-page version of the Thriving Kids in Disasters report, providing a summary of the outcomes and recommendations.
PDF 1.5MB
LINK
Thriving Kids in Disasters (TKiD) Project Library
This Project Library contains links to 70+ resources to support individuals and organisations working with infants, children, young people, families, and communities in the context of disasters.
DOWNLOAD
Thriving Kids in Disasters – Phase 2 Overview
In partnership with key stakeholders, the TKiD project phase 1 provided a systemic review of strengths and improvement opportunities across Queensland’s disaster management and recovery arrangements related to child wellbeing and resilience. Find out how Phase 2 is building on the findings and work towards the implementation of recommendations using co-development and delivery.
PDF 1.5MB
LINK
Supporting infants and children in disasters: A practice guide
Emerging Minds’ practice guide is a series of resources on child-centred and family-focused approaches in disaster preparedness, response and recovery. It aims to equip practitioners with foundational knowledge and evidence-informed approaches to support infants, children and their families during and after disasters, and promote their long-term healing and wellbeing.
LINK
Emerging Minds Climate Change and Disasters Toolkit
When discussing the relationship between climate change and disasters and mental health, it’s essential to rely on factual and clear communication strategies, avoiding potential pitfalls or misconceptions. This toolkit provides suggestions and examples.
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You should know...
Explainer video: "What surrounds us shapes us"
This short explainer video introduces the Resilience Scale and ARACY’s The Nest framework as models to help understand how experiences and environments shape children’s health and development.
Partnerships charter
Our Charter clearly sets out the partnership’s shared goals, values and ways of working to improve systems for Queensland’s children. We invite you to review the Charter and join us if you support our shared vision for Queensland kids.
Report: Queensland Place-Based Rivermap
The Queensland Place-Based Rivermap proposes systemic actions to support our many place-based initiatives. Let’s work together to create local conditions that are good for families and kids.
