Coping with Trauma and Crisis in Schools
The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement regularly undertakes training for schools which addresses grief and bereavement in children, adolescents and adults as well as best practices for coping with trauma and crisis in schools. For further information contact our Manager of Health Promotion and Education by email or phone on (03) 9265 2170.Here you will find a range of online resources to assist teachers and school communities following grief and loss events:
Virginia Model School Crisis Management Plan.
This is a comprehensive 249 page Resource Guide for Crisis Management in Virginia Schools. This guide covers Policy and Leadership, Establishing the Crisis Response Team, Developing an Effective Crisis Management Plan, Critical Incident Management, Training for Preparedness, Communications, a Quick Guide to Crisis Management, and Resources. Download the PDF document here.
Florida Department of Education. Crisis Management. This five page document released by the Florida Department of Education provides a good summary of crisis management issues in schools. Download the PDF document here.
Suicide Postvention in Schools
Suicide Postvention Guidelines Including Suspected or Attempted Suicide
Produced by the Department for Education and Children's Services (SA), Catholic Education (SA), Association of Independent Schools of SA, this document provides a framework to assist staff in supporting their school communities at different time-frames. The electronic document comprises two files: main content including sample documents; cover and tab dividers. Access the document here.
Supporting Children after suicide
Supporting Children after Suicide booklet (in PDF format)
Care and support pack for families and friends bereaved by suicide
The care and support pack has been prepared by the Centre for Mental Health, NSW Health Department and includes four important publications to help families and friends bereaved by suicide. They are:
- About the care and support pack for families and friends bereaved by suicide;
- Coping with grief after suicide;
- At this time: when someone you know has died by suicide;
- After suicide: information for families and friends.
Grieving Children and Adolescents
The club no one wants to join: A dozen lessons I've learned from grieving children and adolescents written by Dr. Donna L. Schuurman, Ed.D., Executive Director of the US based Dougy Center and the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement International Educator in 2002. This paper was published in Grief Matters: The Australian Journal of Grief and Bereavement in August 2002.
Emergency Management Australia
This large PDF document provides a comprehensive guide to assessment, interventions and forms a basis for the provision of psychological services
Mental Health Practitioners Guide: Guidelines for Psychological Service Practice
A Report on Bereavement and Grief Research
The U.S. based Center for the Advancement of Health has released the findings of a three-year study, A Report on Bereavement and Grief Research. Funded by a grant from the Project on Death in America, the project examined the field of grief and bereavement with the ultimate goal of improving the care provided to grieving people. The comprehensive report may be downloaded here.
Resources Material
Download a copy of the Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement Resources Guide. This includes publications for Children and Young People
Department of Education & Training - Managing School Emergencies
The Department’s Emergency & Security Management Branch have developed a comprehensive guide to preparing for emergencies, developing school emergency management plans, and managing school emergencies, Managing School Emergencies (PDF, 710K).
This document can be accessed here.
Emergency Management Australia (EMA)
EMA have recently launched a new web site for schools. This is a comprehensive resource on emergency management for Australian students and teachers, from late Primary to late Secondary. It contains many generic lesson plans, images, history, links, and other information for learning about all aspects of emergency management. Some good resources for Principals are also available. These can be accessed here.
The Department of Human Services (Vic) Emergency Management Unit has the following resources available:
Fact Sheets:
http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency/publications
The following fact sheets have been prepared by the Department of Human Services for the purpose of assisting members of the community cope with a range of adverse events.
Bear in mind that it is not possible to predict every situation or circumstance in which community members may refer to the Fact Sheets. Their intention is to provide guidance only. Prior to using the fact sheets, please read the disclaimer available on the web page
- Financial Assistance
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