Wellbeing

Following the tragic events at Bondi Beach, many children and young people may be feeling unsettled, anxious or confused, particularly if they have been exposed to media coverage or conversations about what occurred. Even indirect exposure to such events can disrupt a child’s sense of safety and lead to emotional or behavioural changes, with each child responding differently depending on their age and individual needs.

The brain stores traumatic events as powerful emotional memories, influencing a young person’s behaviour through mechanisms beyond their conscious awareness. By providing them with support and equipping young people with coping mechanisms to handle uncertainty, parents and carers can greatly enhance a child’s capacity to recover and build long-term emotional resilience.

This Special Report offers practical guidance to help identify the signs of trauma and outlines ways we can support young people through recovery.