Children and families in a remote WA town continue to experience trauma and chronic homelessness 18 months on from a catastrophic flood hitting the area, an assessment by children’s rights and leading health advocates has found.
In response to the devastating January 2023 floods, and the catastrophic impact on the remote community of Fitzroy Crossing, Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre and Royal Far West invited UNICEF Australia to conduct a join, comprehensive assessment focusing on the needs of children. The 2023 Flood Response and Recovery in Fitzroy Crossing Needs Assessment is the first time UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West have assessed the unique experiences of a remote Aboriginal community directly impacted by a major disaster.
It’s the third assessment across three states, revealing a lack of planning for children when it comes to disaster response and recovery, and this is leading to long-term consequences.
This latest report highlights the need in Indigenous communities for a coordinated and community-led approach to disaster response where children are prioritised as many in Fitzroy Crossing and surrounding communities continue to live with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and now experience heightened anxiety when it rains.
In the immediate aftermath of all major disasters, child friendly spaces within emergency accommodation must be provided as well as specific child-focused psychosocial support.
The assessment follows an invitation from Aboriginal community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre to consider the unique experiences of children and their families.
“The assessment provides not only confronting insights into the disaster response for the January 2023 floods, but also highlights the degree of disadvantage suffered throughout Fitzroy Crossing communities which have been made much worse by this flood,” says Emily Carter, Chief Executive of Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource Centre.
Professor Elizabeth Elliott AM, a senior advisor in Child Health for UNICEF Australia and Royal Far West Board member says the devastating impact of the flood on local children cannot be underestimated, with urgent greater investment needed in child health and wellbeing services.
“Many children and young people were left homeless, hungry, frightened and traumatised. They lost their pets, toys, access to education, preventative medicine and any semblance of normality,” says Prof Elliott.
About 40 people were interviewed for the assessment (more than 60 per cent are Aboriginal), in addition to service providers including clinical practitioners, and health workers.
Key findings include:
- For weeks, the town was cut off from surrounding communities due to its remoteness and access to medical care, recovery, immunisations and health checks was delayed;
- Children experienced major disruptions including displacement from homes which created emotional challenges, and regression in developmental milestones;
- Children now have heightened anxiety when it rains and experience fear and emotional distress from the rains, rising waters, and flooding;
- Despite the rebuilding of some homes post-floods, the town continues to experience a housing crisis exacerbating existing chronic homelessness;
- In the immediate aftermath of the flood, children were exposed to potentially dangerous floating debris and disease;
- Children were left without safe areas to play.
UNICEF Australia’s Head of Climate, Nishadh Rego says residents remain extremely vulnerable to future disasters and called on the Federal and West Australian governments to work with the community to prepare them for extreme weather events.
“UNICEF Australia supports all children but realises Indigenous communities have unique needs which is why we worked with community partners to conduct this assessment – building on our work with communities impacted by the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires and 2022 East Coast floods,” he said.
“There will be more cyclones, fires and floods and it’s essential that children and their families get the right support at the right time. Aboriginal communities such as those in Fitzroy Crossing have particular needs and should have the resources and ability to help design and implement disaster preparedness programs with government.”
It’s long been the case that the region has a tight knit community with shared historic trauma and disadvantage, says Professor Elliott.
“What is clear from this assessment is that disaster preparedness and existing child health care services in Fitzroy require greater investment,” says Professor Elliott. “In January 2023, the flood separated families and prevented access to food and medicines, healthcare and education.
“Often children who experience significant trauma like a major flood develop PTSD which can last for some time and the assessment confirms this.”
At the time of the flood, Fitzroy Crossing did not have an Aboriginal Medical Service or General Practitioner, and primary health care was available only at the Fitzroy Crossing Hospital. Specialist care and diagnostic testing since the floods continues to be difficult to access with some families having to travel nearly 400km to Broome, the assessment found.
In recent years, Royal Far West has delivered community-led services. General Manager of Schools & Community, Kim Casburn said the community’s voice must be heard when it comes to mitigating the harms of future disasters like that experienced in Fitzroy Crossing.
“Community resilience and Aboriginal leadership made a significant difference to the flood response and recovery, and it demonstrates the need for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) to receive greater funding for the practical role they play in emergencies, disaster response, and recovery.”