Types of crises
Social and political crises, war, health emergencies and natural disasters may impact school communities. These types of crises may significantly impact students, staff and families who have experienced loss, trauma or displacement, or those with close ties to other countries.
There are many international and local events which may impact school communities. This overview of current conflicts, health emergencies and natural disasters gives advice on how to support students, staff and families from culturally diverse backgrounds who may need greater support during these times.
Current conflicts
Civil unrest and war can have a significant impact on members of the school community. Impact may not be limited to individuals with direct connection to the crisis but may be felt by others as well. This may include students, staff and families:
- with a shared cultural heritage, religion or faith
- who have had similar experiences
- with links to or family members in the affected areas
- who are concerned about the broader implications of a crisis.
The current conflict in the Middle East continues to cause distress within our communities and schools. The following resources may assist:
- Supporting the school community during the current conflict in the Middle East: Advice for schools (PDF 170 KB)
- Middle East letter to parents and carers for schools to use as a model for communicating with parents and carers about the conflict. This letter is available in community languages.
The NSW Government has published a factsheet in English and Arabic to assist people arriving from Lebanon. It includes information about accessing government services including healthcare, housing and schooling:
In response to Russian military operations in Ukraine, martial law was declared in February 2022. Thousands of residents fled their homes to find shelter in urban areas and neighbouring countries. This situation has created feelings of fear and anger for many people from Ukraine who live in Australia. These feelings may also be felt by those who have family and friends in Ukraine or those from countries close to Ukraine such as Poland, Romania and Belarus.
- Supporting students and families (PDF 90 KB) from Ukraine contains resources, support services and enrolment advice.
- The EAL/D NSW statewide staffroom provides advice including access to meetings and briefings held to support students and families from Ukraine.
In August 2021 tens of thousands of people fled their homes as the Taliban seized control of the country. This situation, including graphic scenes of chaos in Kabul has created feelings of fear for Afghans living in Australia, and people who have family and friends in Afghanistan.
- Advice to support students newly arrived from Afghanistan can be found by searching 'Afghanistan' on the EAL/D NSW statewide staffroom.
Natural disasters
While all members of school communities will be affected and require support during natural disasters like floods or bushfires, students and families from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, particularly those from refugee backgrounds, may need additional support. Alarms, evacuation sirens, deployment of military personnel, evacuation to temporary shelters and loss of property may cause distress and trigger trauma associated with prior experiences of loss and displacement.
Families who do not speak English well may need additional support to:
- understand the advice provided by emergency services
- access emergency services
- understand the dangers associated with bushfires and flash flooding
- adjust to changes to routine, such as closure of schools.
Advice to assist parents, teachers and students following bushfires is available via the School Operational Status website.
Headspace also provides advice on how to cope with the stress of natural disasters.
Health emergencies
COVID-19 and stay at home orders, have had a long term impact on many communities across NSW.
Many students and families from refugee backgrounds and those who did not speak or understand English well felt particularly anxious and isolated during the pandemic due to:
- disruption to school routine
- lack of access to technology required to support learning from home
- difficulties accessing and participating in online learning
- parents’ and families' perceptions of their capacity to support their children learning online
- increased police and military presence causing distress for families who had experienced war, conflict, persecution and loss of freedom.
Many Local Government Areas (LGAs) which experienced harsher restrictions such as Fairfield, Liverpool, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Blacktown, Parramatta, Georges River and Campbelltown, were impacted; this impact is ongoing. Many students continue to need additional support to address the disruption to learning that occurred during the pandemic.
See EAL/D learners learning from home for support and information.