McGill Nicole, Verdon Sarah, Curtin Michael, Crockett Judith, Parnell Tracey, Hodgins Gene
School of Allied Health, Exercise and Sports Sciences, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia.
School of Psychology, Charles Sturt University, NSW, Australia.
Int J Speech Lang Pathol. 2023 Feb;25(1):20-26. doi: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2156613. Epub 2023 Feb 2.
Natural disasters can significantly impact children's health, development, and wellbeing, as well as their access to education and support services (including speech-language pathology). Children's needs are often overlooked in the urgent aftermath of natural disasters. This is especially true for children with communication difficulties. This commentary explores the impacts of bushfire on Australian children, to propose a sustainable, community-based approach to supporting children's health, wellbeing, and communication.
The Royal Far West Bushfire Recovery Program, a multidisciplinary allied health program, supported children's recovery, resilience, and development in the aftermath of Australia's Black Summer bushfires in 2019-2020. Children learnt coping strategies and were more able to communicate with adults and peers about their feelings and experiences, but residual impacts of bushfires remained for some children. Allied health telepractice services, including speech-language pathology, enhanced access for vulnerable children, highlighting the potential for technology to provide high-quality services to support recovery, particularly in remote areas.
Climate change increases the frequency and severity of bushfires and other natural disasters with significant consequences for vulnerable and at-risk communities. Children with communication needs are particularly vulnerable during and following these disasters. High quality, evidence-based interventions are needed to support the health, wellbeing, and communication needs of children, with opportunities for involvement of speech-language pathologists. This commentary paper focusses on SDG 1, SDG 3, SDG 4, SDG 9, SDG 10, SDG 11, SDG 13, and SDG 15.
自然灾害会对儿童的健康、发展和幸福产生重大影响，同时也会影响他们获得教育和支持服务（包括言语病理学服务）的机会。在自然灾害发生后的紧急阶段，儿童的需求往往被忽视。对于有沟通困难的儿童来说尤其如此。本评论探讨丛林大火对澳大利亚儿童的影响，以提出一种基于社区的可持续方法，来支持儿童的健康、幸福和沟通。
皇家远西丛林大火恢复项目是一个多学科联合健康项目，在2019 - 2020年澳大利亚“黑色夏天”丛林大火之后，支持了儿童的恢复、恢复力和发展。孩子们学到了应对策略，并且更有能力与成年人和同龄人交流他们的感受和经历，但丛林大火对一些孩子仍有残留影响。包括言语病理学在内的联合健康远程医疗服务增加了弱势儿童获得服务的机会，凸显了技术为支持恢复提供高质量服务的潜力，特别是在偏远地区。
气候变化增加了丛林大火和其他自然灾害的频率和严重程度，给脆弱和高危社区带来了重大后果。有沟通需求的儿童在这些灾害期间及之后尤其脆弱。需要高质量、基于证据的干预措施来满足儿童的健康、幸福和沟通需求，言语病理学家也应有机会参与其中。本评论文章聚焦于可持续发展目标1、3、4、9、10、11、13和15。
