Children: the missing piece in Disaster Philanthropy
- rebecca2678
- Dec 10, 2025
- 3 min read
Photo credit: @vostroll_
As Australia enters another dangerous bushfire season, more than 70 fires are currently burning across multiple states. For families in regional and rural communities, the fear is familiar: homes lost, communities disrupted, and lives rerouted overnight.
But amid the national conversation, one group consistently remains invisible: children and their health.
Why Children’s Health Must Be a Priority in Disaster Recovery
Children process stress differently. Disasters create layered, compounding pressures:
the shock of losing home or possessions
fear when separated from family
disrupted routines and loss of daily stability
uncertainty about whether it will happen again
Research from the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University shows that toxic stress can alter the architecture of a developing brain, leading to long-term mental health and developmental challenges.
Common signs of stress in children after disasters
anxiety or fearfulness
regression in behaviour
nightmares or sleep disruption
school avoidance
difficulty concentrating
emotional dysregulation
These symptoms often appear months later, long after media coverage has faded.
Children in Rural and Regional Communities Are Especially Vulnerable
For kids living in rural and remote Australia, disasters often compound year after year — bushfires, floods, and other climate-related events.
These country children experience prolonged stress and disrupted education, which can affect:
mental health
learning and school performance
long-term socio-economic outcomes
Yet despite being some of the most affected, children remain an underfunded group in disaster philanthropy.
The Funding Gap in Children’s Health and Disaster Recovery
Globally, only 3% of disaster philanthropy goes to children, even though they make up 25–30% of disaster-affected populations.
This creates a massive opportunity for philanthropists and donors to invest in children’s health, resilience, and early intervention programs — especially in rural and regional communities.
Child-Focused Support Examples
Several organisations in Australia have created publicly available, evidence-based supports for disaster-affected children.
One example is the Resilient Kids Toolkit, developed by Royal Far West with philanthropic funding. This resource provides:
practical strategies to help children manage fear, grief, and stress
guidance for caregivers on creating emotional safety
tools for schools to restore routine, connection, and stability
Resources like this are vital for rural children’s health and child mental health in emergencies.
How Philanthropy Can Make a Real Impact
There is a meaningful opportunity for donors and philanthropic leaders who want to invest where it counts most:
Make children a standalone disaster recovery category
Not an afterthought. Kids health and mental health recovery should be funded directly.
Fund early intervention programs in rural and remote communities
Evidence shows that early intervention in childhood creates measurable benefits for families and the broader community.
Support evidence-based initiatives
Invest in programs that deliver long-term outcomes for child mental health, development, and well-being.
Focus on country kids
Children in regional, rural, and remote areas often face systemic disadvantage and are disproportionately affected by disasters.
A Final Word
Children don’t choose the disasters they inherit.
But philanthropists and donors can choose how they respond.
Every time a generous person raises their hand and says “I want to help,” life gets a little easier for children and families in rural and regional communities, and for those working to rebuild communities and ensure kids thrive.
Rebecca
Disclaimer
The views expressed in this article are solely my own and do not represent the views of any employer or organisation. All examples referenced are publicly available and included for general information only.
