A literature review published today in the Medical Journal of Australia’s (MJA) special supplement on Evidence Gaps in Rural Research shows an increased risk of poorer mental health outcomes for children as a result of bushfires.

Commissioned by the Spinifex Network and co-authored by Charles Sturt University and Australian children’s charity Royal Far West, “The Impact of Bushfire on the Wellbeing of Children Living in Rural and Remote Australia: A Rapid Review” investigated both the dynamics associated with mental health and development of children impacted by bushfire, and which interventions lead to better outcomes for these children.

Charles Sturt University’s Head of School, School of Community Health, Associate Professor, and co-author of the report, Michael Curtin said: “The findings of this rapid review have identified that children exposed to bushfires may be at increased risk of poorer wellbeing outcomes. Children particularly at risk are those from more vulnerable backgrounds who may have other compounding factors, limiting their ability to overcome bushfire trauma.”

Although several studies investigated the short and long-term impact of exposure to bushfire on children and adolescents, there were no studies found that highlighted effective interventions to reduce the risk of the impact of bushfire.

Jacqui Emery, Royal Far West’s Executive Director, Business, People and Culture, said the lack of evidence for interventions to help children recover was a serious concern given the likelihood of more bushfires in Australia.

“It is essential that we are able to help children recover as a priority, based on the best evidence, to ensure any future outcomes as a result of bushfire are better managed,” Ms Emery said.

Key findings from the literature review include:

• Children exposed to bushfire reported higher levels of mental health symptoms such as depression and anxiety compared with those not exposed to fire, especially in the short to medium term.

• The impact of bushfire exposure may not be apparent in the short term but may become more pronounced later in life. Exposure to trauma in children may only be noticed at later stages of development when higher order cognitive abilities and skills emerge.  
• There is no (bushfire specific) evidence identified that supports intervention to improve the outcomes for this population, though research into other disasters indicates there are sound foundations to consider for successful approaches.
• Given the likely increase in bushfire events in Australia, research into effective interventions should be a priority.

Ms Emery said the literature review will contribute to better understanding the short, medium and long-term impact of bushfire on children, and the development of evidence-based interventions and policy to support children in the bush, where most bushfires occur, and where service access is already a significant challenge.

“The findings highlight the importance of evaluating interventions that aim to  reduce the risk of long-term negative impact of the bushfire on their wellbeing, such as the Bushfire Recovery Program* we are undertaking with UNICEF Australia, to determine its efficacy and impact,” she added.

Associate Professor Curtin said the research helps us understand the mental health, behavioral and developmental outcomes for children impacted by bushfire, and is an important resource for government and policy makers.

* Charles Sturt University is currently undertaking an independent evaluation on the effectiveness of this program.

About Royal Far West

Royal Far West is one of Australia’s oldest and most enduring charities and is dedicated to the developmental health and wellbeing of Australia’s country kids.

Established in 1924, Royal Far West provides a truly integrated service and offers health, education and disability services for country children and their families at the Centre for Country Kids in Manly, as well as virtually via Telecare and in local communities.

Through a team of more than 95 paediatric specialists, Royal Far West supports children aged 2-12 with a range of concerns including speech and language delays; behavioural and conduct disorders; early life trauma and mental illness; autism, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorders.

Find out more  www.royalfarwest.org.au

About the Bushfire Recovery Program

With the generous support of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Royal Far West is partnering with UNICEF Australia to support the recovery of children, families and communities affected by bushfire.

The Bushfire Recovery Program provides direct support to children (0-12yrs), and their parents/carers, to improve the resilience and wellbeing of children and decrease the likelihood of long-term adverse impacts.

The program includes trauma counselling, capability building for schools, families and communities and is adaptable to meet the specific needs of over 30 communities in eight regions of NSW.