Crisis and emergency situations affect children's physical, emotional, and cognitive growth. The exposure to traumatic events, such as bushfires or domestic violence, can lead to severe anxiety in children, disruptions in sleep, behavioural changes, and concentration difficulties (Pfefferbaum et al., 2015). Children may begin to show some regressive behaviours, clinginess, or even complete withdrawal as ways to cope with overwhelming feelings. Interruption of normal routines, separation from caregivers, or losing homes or possessions add to the feeling of insecurity.
Crisis-undergoing families face greater stressors such as lack of finance, unstable housing, and non-availability of support services, reducing their ability to give uniform care (AIHW, 2022). In environments disturbed by family violence, children may witness or be subjected to abuse impacts, which result in a long-term effect on their emotional regulation and relationships (Humphreys et al., 2017).