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Thriving Kids in Disasters (TKiD) Project Library
This Project Library collates links to 70+ resources to support you and your organisations when working with infants, children, young people, families, and communities in the context of disasters.
If you know of additional resources you’d like to recommend for inclusion in the Project Library, please get in touch with the TKiD project team: TQKP@aracy.org.au
Frameworks for kids’ wellbeing & resilience (Australia)
Kate Anderson, Darren Garvey, Kirsten Howard, Tamara Butler, Michelle Dickson, Joan Cunningham, Roxanne Bainbridge, Gail Garvey, 2025. Understanding wellbeing from the perspectives of First Nations Australian youth: Findings from a national qualitative study. SSM – Mental Health, Volume 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssmmh.2025.100423
ARACY, The Nest Children’s Wellbeing Framework
ARACY, Young and Wise: A review of what Australian children and young people say they need to thrive.
Australian Government, Early Years Strategy (2024)
Australian Government, Framework for a National Strategy on Climate, Health and Well-being for Australia (2018)
Australian Government, National Disaster Mental Health & Wellbeing Framework
Australian Government, National Health and Climate Strategy (2023)
Australian Government, National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples’ Mental Health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing 2017-2023
Brain Story: Creating Systems Integration Using the Resilience Scale. Report 3 of 3. Alberta Family Wellness Initiative, 2023
Brain Story: Organizational change management. Quality improvement implemented using the Resilience Scale: An Alberta Family Wellness Initiative Proof of Concept. Report 2 of 3. Alberta Family Wellness Initiative, 2023
Tamara L. Butler, Kate Anderson, Gail Garvey, Joan Cunningham, Julie Ratcliffe, Allison Tong, Lisa J. Whop, Alan Cass, Michelle Dickson, Kirsten Howard, 2019. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s domains of wellbeing: A comprehensive literature review. Social Science & Medicine, Volume 233, Pages 138-157, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2019.06.004.
Education Qld, A great start for children, Early Years Plan (2020)
Emerging Minds/ Frameworks Institute, https://www.frameworksinstitute.org/app/uploads/2023/12/FWI_EmergingMinds-ClimateChange.pdf
Harvard University Center on the Developing Child, 2015. In Brief: The Science of Resilience.
McDaid L, Edmed S, Maturi J, Xiang N., 2023. Childhood Builders – Operationalising Resilience Frames and Tools Evidence Review Report.Moore, T., Vicary, D., & Bessell, S. (2024). The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child: Reflections on Australia’s progress and challenges. Children Australia, 46(2), 3048. doi.org/10.61605/cha_3048
Qld Government (Winingali), 2019. A Wellbeing Outcomes Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Queensland
Qld Government, Young Queenslanders Strategy (2024)
Qld Government, Human Health and Wellbeing Climate Adaptation Plan for Qld (2018)
Qld Government, Putting Qld Kids First (2024)
QLD Mental Health Commission, The Queensland Trauma Strategy
UNICEF The Convention on the Rights of the Child: The children’s version.
UNICEF, 2020. Engaged and Heard! Guidelines on Adolescent Participation and Civic Engagement.
Frameworks for Disaster Management (Queensland)
2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. 2024
Australian Government Crisis Management Framework. Commonwealth of Australia (Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet), 2023
Australian Emergency Management Arrangements. Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience [AIDR], 2023
Australian Disaster Recovery Framework (v. 3). National Emergency Management Agency [NEMA], 2022
Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience [AIDR]. Systemic Disaster Risk (first ed.), 2021
Building Resilience to Natural Disasters Collaboration Guide: Practical Guidance for Queenslanders. Queensland Reconstruction Authority, 2020
Disaster Management Act 2003. State of Queensland, 2024
Disaster Management Regulation. State of Queensland, 2014
Disaster risk reduction and recovery: Every country protected. Every Child resilient. United Nations Children’s Fund [UNICEF], 2024
Inspector-General of Emergency Management Review of Queensland’s Disaster Management Arrangements (QDMA). Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management, 2023
National Principles for Disaster Recovery. Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience [AIDR]
Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience 2022-2027. Queensland Reconstruction Authority. 2022
Queensland Disaster Management Training Framework. Version 6. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, 2020
Queensland State Disaster Management Plan. State of Queensland, 2023
Queensland 2023 State Disaster Risk Report. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, 2023
Queensland Evacuation Centre Planning Toolkit. Australian Red Cross, 2017
Queensland Evacuation Centre Management Handbook. Australian Red Cross, 2017
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements Report. Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements. (2020)
Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk and Reduction [UNDRR]. 2015
Resilience
‘Action supports the development of genuine hope and trust, and facilitates a sense of agency, resulting in healthy adaptation.’
– Doctors for the Environment Aus 2021
ACATLGN, Making a place for children in disaster resilience policy and practice discussion paper
AIDR webinar – Empowering the next generation for a resilient future
Planning for disaster resilience education
Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 2020. Publication on kids and DRR in Australia
– Treichel, P. (2020). Why focus on children: A literature review of child-centred climate change adaptation approaches. Australian Journal of Emergency Management, 35(2), 26-33 APS, FAQ A guide for parents about climate change
– Why focus on children: a literature review of child-centred climate change adaptation approaches
ANU, Bushfire smoke and our health, a book for kids and grownups (2024)
APS, The Climate Change Empowerment Handbook.
APS, Raising children to thrive in a climate changed world.
APS, 101 things you can do to help address climate change.
APS, Raising Children in a Climate Changed World Information Sheet
APS, How to talk to children about climate change. A toolkit for parents and carers.
APS, Down-to-Earth Guide To Global Warming, by Laurie David and Cambria Gordon
Australian Red Cross Youth Survey Report
Aus Youth Advisory Council on International Climate Change
Blackdog Institute, Culture dose for kids program
Clemens et al, 2022. Report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change: implications for the mental health policy of children and adolescents in Europe—a scoping reviewEuropean Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Vol 31:701–713. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-020-01615-3
Climate Psychologists, Identifying Climate Anxiety and Managing Eco-Emotions for parents
Climate Psychiatry Alliance, Children/Youth and Climate
Climate Resilience Network, Looking after our Mental Health in Response to Climate Change
Doctors for the Environment Australia, How climate change affects mental health in Australia
Early Childhood Scientific Council on Equity and the Environment. (2023). Extreme heat affects early childhood development and health
Emerging Minds (Ann Sanson), 2020. How to support children’s wellbeing in the face of climate change
Emerging Minds Climate Change and Disasters Toolkit
Kids Help line, I’m worried about the environment
Harker-Schuch I, Lade S, Mills F, Colvin R. 2021. Opinions of 12 to 13-year-olds in Austria and Australia on the concern, cause and imminence of climate change. Ambio. Vol. 50 (3):644-660.
Dan Holmes (The Manderin), 2024. Disaster management planning needed to avoid “polycrisis.”
Fiona MacDonald, Chris Lanyon, Leah Munnery, Derm Ryan, Katherine Ellis, Sam Champion. 2023. Agents of change in bushfire recovery: Young people’s acts of citizenship in a youth-focused, animal-welfare and environmental program. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Volume 87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103551
Fire to Flourish Program – Monash University
Neighbourhood Centres Queensland Strategy for Disaster Resilience 2023-2026
Mental Health First Aid International. Teen Mental Health First Aid – Empowering Young People
Nixon, M. & Gooyers-Bourke, L. 2021. Making a place for children in disaster resilience policy and practice. An opinion paper. The Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network, ANU.
Orygen, Climate distress and the mental health of young people
Plan C NextGen Navigators, now Surviving Disasters: Northern Rivers
ResiliencebyDesign, Navigating Meaningful Youth Engagement in DRR
ResiliencebyDesign, Lab 4P Framework for Youth Engagement
SEEDMob, First Nations Australians climate action
University of Sydney, How to keep kids connected to nature as they grow
UNICEF Australia (website)
UNICEF Australia, 2021. Children’s Voices in a Changing World
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, (2024). Advancing disability inclusion in local disaster risk reduction: Analysis and Recommendations from the Pilot Implementation of the Disaster Resilience Scorecard for Cities—Annex for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities
Children’s Voices in a Changing World
UNICEF Australia, Children and Climate Change (resources)
UNICEF Aus climate action program
Uniting and Plan International, 2021. Supporting children and Young people in times of crisis (Vic NSW)
University of Melbourne, 2025. Climate Kids (videos)
Victoria University, Centre of Excellence for Young People and Disasters
Western Sydney Uni, Young + Resilient Research Centre
‘A climate-resilient mental health sector requires a focus on education of mental health professionals, developing enhanced assessments, harnessing existing strategies, increasing social prescribing which harness the mental health ‘co-benefits’ of climate action, a focus on families and a health equity approach.’
– Doctors for the Environment Aus 2021
Preparedness
‘So as kids get older you can give them information but also engage them in much more of a conversation. What do they have questions about? What they think about what is going on?’
– Nicola Palfrey on ABC Disaster
Australian Breastfeeding Association, Emergency resources for babies and toddlers
ABC, How to help your kids through an emergency
Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma Loss and Grief Network [ACATLGN]. Schools and Trauma Hub.
AIDR Curriculum Mapping: Disaster Resilience Education in the Australian Curriculum, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
AIDR Education for Young People – Disaster Resilience Education, Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience
Be You, Disaster Preparedness
BNHCRC, Disaster resilience education, A practice framework for Australian Emergency Management Agencies
Disaster Ready podcast on schools as social capital in disasters
Elizabeth A. Newnham, Peta L. Dzidic, Leanne M. Kelly, 2023. Child disaster resilience in action: Post-bushfire qualitative perspectives on a school-based preparedness program. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, Volume 96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2023.103925
Howard J., 2021. National Guidelines for Trauma-Aware Education.
Myors, B. E. (2013). Australian Catholic University. Riding the wave: An exploration of principals’ experiences leading their schools through and beyond critical incidents[Thesis].
Office of the Advocate for Children and Young People, 2024. Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Report: Voices of Children and young people living in the Northern Rivers.
PCYC Emergency Services Cadets in Qld
Qld Government, Early Childhood Education and Care, Be Emergency and Evacuation Ready
Qld Government, Get Ready Queensland
Schools in Fire Country program in Victoria:
– this newly published schools in fire country video, narrated by the St Ambrose Parish Primary School in Victoria, and published by the Country Fire Authority
– Strathewen Primary School Bushfire message/ video
– Harkaway Primary School Bushfire Safety Committee and Manifesto
– Upwey School youth voice, agency, leadership
– Schools in Fire Country learning for child-centred bushfire RR education
University of Sydney, Children can be more vulnerable in the heat. Here’s how to protect them.
UNICEF, International guide to value and engage children and youth in DRR.
Victorian Country Fire Authority, Resources for bushfire education.
YACVic Young People and Disasters Resource Hub
Lydia Wardale’s proposed Youth Guardian program
Families (preparedness)
ABC Helping Hands: Disaster Resilience Toolkit
Australian Breastfeeding Association Emergency Resources for Babies and Toddlers
headspace – how to cope with the stress of natural disasters
MacKillop Seasons Stormbirds program
Natural disasters: family guide – Raising Children Network
Red Cross Pillowcase Workshops
Royal Far West Resilient Kids Toolkit
Sesame Street Workshop Guide to Emergencies
Supporting kids with disability in natural disasters – Raising Children Network
Trinka and Sam Series: Piplo Productions
Triple P – 6 ways to help kids cope in the lead-up to cyclone – (created for TC Alfred 2025)
Response
Australian Breastfeeding Association, Supporting Families in Emergencies
Australian Breastfeeding Association, Disaster support for babies, toddlers & caregivers e-learning module
Australian Red Cross Evacuation Centre Planning Toolkit (checklist for supporting kids)
AIDR, Child friendly spaces: protecting and supporting kids in emergency response and recovery
AIDR, Supporting children after natural and human induced disasters
Melissa Bessaha, scoping review on young people’s roles in disaster mitigation and response
BeYou, Natural Disaster Response (Wellbeing tools)
Helen Connelly, Being Child and Youth focused in Emergencies
Emerging Minds, Practice Guide for supporting infants and children in disasters
International Network for Education in Emergencies, Engaging Youth-Led and Youth-Serving Organizations in Disaster Relief Efforts: A guide for international agencies involved in emergency response and recovery
Save the Children, 2008. Child Friendly Spaces in Emergencies Handbook
Briony Towers. (2015). Children’s knowledge of bushfire emergency response. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 24(2), 179.
Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health, Growing together through natural disasters – Heat Wave
Recovery
‘Their own and their caregivers’ increased mental health disorders and distress can impact children and adolescents’ developmental trajectory and result in learning difficulties, cognitive and language delays and difficulties with emotional regulation.’ (ibid:4)
Advocate for Children and Young People in NSW
AIDR, Child friendly spaces: protecting and supporting kids in emergency response and recovery
Creative Recovery Network, Elders and Youth Arts Project, Mid North Coast NSW
Curtin University, Strength After Disasters (youth mental health) program (WA)
Lisa Gibbs, Melissa Di Pietro, Amanda Harris, Greg Ireton, Samantha Mordech, Michelle Roberts, Joanne Sinclair, Ruth Wraith. 2014. Core principles for a community-based approach to supporting child disaster recovery.
Emerging Minds, Supporting student voice in disaster recovery –
Freeman, C., Nairn, K., & Gollop, M. (2015). Disaster impact and recovery: what children and young people can tell us. Kōtuitui: New Zealand Journal of Social Sciences Online, 10(2), 103–115. https://doi.org/10.1080/1177083X.2015.1066400
Karleen Gribble, Michelle Hamrosi, Susan Tawia, The Babies and Young Children in the Black Summer (BiBS) Study
Healthy North Coast Resilient Kids Program, Northern NSW
Headspace, Supporting a young person after a natural disaster
Mater Young Adult Health Centre Brisbane, Youth Natural Disaster Recovery website.
Monash University, 2023. Short fuse links bushfires with domestic violence
Royal Far West, After the Disaster – Recovery for Australia’s Children
UNICEF Australia. (2019). In their own words: the hidden impact of prolonged drought on children and young people. https://www.unicef.org.au/Upload/UNICEF/Media/Documents/Drought-Report-2019.pdf
UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West, Children in Disasters
UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West, 2023. Flood Response and Recovery in Fitzroy Crossing: Needs Assessment
UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West, 2022 Flood Response and Recovery: Children’s Needs Assessment
UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West, 2021. After The Disaster: Recovery for Australia’s Children
University of Melbourne. (2019, February 6). Black Saturday: Understanding disaster recovery and resilience
VCOSS Disaster Recovery Conversation series: Facilitating the voice of children and young people in disaster recovery
YACVic, Youth Focused Disaster Recovery Protocol
For parents and kids
Emerging Minds, Supporting children in short term recovery
Emerging Minds, Supporting children in long term recovery
headspace, How to cope with the stress of natural disasters
headspace, Understanding natural disasters for young people
headspace, Supporting a young person after a natural disaster fact sheet
‘The consequences of disaster and climate hazards are often magnified for youth; their stages of development and traditional lack of access to power means that the impacts of disasters and climate change can have long-lasting effects. Changes in the natural, built, and cultural environments of their communities, in friendship and peer networks, and in anticipated futures can be experienced as positive or negative. Regardless of whether such changes are framed as good or bad, all changes tend to generate stress and many cause distress, that if not resolved can result in ongoing psychological and emotional issues for youth.’
– Resilience by Design 2023:13
Resource spotlight
Blog: Caring for children and caring for the planet are inextricably linked
LINK
This report shares insights drawn from engagements with kids and caregivers in three regional Queensland communities that have experienced natural disasters and identifies common themes to inform further action both locally and more broadly across the state.
Local community leaders, policy makers, social service organisations and government will find here useful approaches to embedding young voices and ideas in decision making.
LINK
Thriving Kids in Disasters Action and Investment Plan
The TKiD Action and Investment Plan provides strategies for funders, decision-makers, communities and organisations to enact impactful solutions and opportunities for resilience building that explicitly encompass the social, physical, mental and cultural wellbeing of kids, families and communities within the broader context of disaster risk reduction.
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.
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More about our work ...
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.
