A new Northern Rivers service is available to young people and their families who need mental health and wellbeing support after the 2022 floods.
The aim of Resilient Kids is to improve the social, emotional and mental health of Northern Rivers young people aged eight to 18 years. A written referral is not needed but GPs and allied health professionals can recommend the program to patients in need of extra support.
Resilient Kids is an Australian first program for young people impacted by extreme-weather events to recover and strengthen their mental health. It is funded by a $10 million grant from the National Emergency Management Agency through Healthy North Coast. Resilient Kids is delivered by the not-for-profit organisation Social Futures.
Social Futures Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager Simone Silberberg described Resilient Kids as ‘multifaceted’:
"There are six community hubs running after-school therapeutic and social and emotional wellbeing groups.
“Face-to-face counselling is also available to young people and their families.
“The hubs are based in Murwillumbah, Mullumbimby, Ballina, Lismore, Casino and Kyogle. Families and young people can phone ahead for appointments, or walk in.
“We also do outreach to smaller communities impacted by the 2022 floods, including: Broadwater, Brunswick Heads, Coraki, Evan Heads, Nimbin, Wardell and Woodburn."
The Resilient Kids team consists of youth workers who provide bespoke brief interventions and counsellors who provide therapeutic interventions. All staff are qualified, including Bachelor of Social Work, Psychology and Counselling, and post-graduate qualifications in therapeutic youth supports and registrations with AHPRA and the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). Resilience Kids also delivers workshops to Northern Rivers schools to promote mental health care.
Healthy North Coast began developing a program to build resilience and wellbeing after a survey found levels of depression and anxiety symptoms were higher among Northern Rivers children and young people than the national average.
The Resilience Survey conducted six months after the February 2022 disaster, was taken by 6,611 school students, nearly 13 per cent of all young people aged between five and 19 in the region.
It found that almost one in three Northern Rivers primary students and more than one in three secondary students were at risk of depression and anxiety. More than 40 per cent of primary students were at risk of trauma-related stress. For secondary students, it was almost 20 per cent.
The goals of Resilient Kids are:
- Power to choose: We coach young people how to make positive choices that improve wellbeing and how to be a supportive friend.
- Ready for anything: We build confidence in young people so they can handle setbacks – and bounce back from tough situations.
- Helping hands: We offer counselling and support and let them know it’s okay to ask for help.
- Support for parents and carers: We help parents and carers support their kids emotionally and socially.
- Community fun: We support connection through fun activities for everyone to get involved in.
- Together as one: We know everyone in our community has a role in supporting our kids.
- Easy access: We make it easy for kids and families to access services.
- Teamwork: We work together with other support services to provide a safety net.
To contact Resilient Kids, phone 1800 719 625 or visit Social Futures’ website. On this site, you can refer using the online form or young people can make their own enquiry. Young people can also visit the hubs.
