Recovery is about acknowledging sadness, pain and other difficulties, but also about remembering and moving forward, picking up life again and having hope, even if there are still difficulties. Recovery also means different things to different people and this needs to be understood and respected. Recovery can be 'living well' with what has happened, or despite what has happened, as a tribute to those who you have lost. It means connecting with others and caring about others. It also means getting help if help is needed. 

Recovery is not a magic end point that makes everything go away. So we have to be careful not to make it an ideology that requires you to be well, when you are not, or to wipe out trauma and grief when the experiences are still part of your life. Potentially for children this may be a problematic concept. And it is often difficult for them to understand - 'getting better' from a physical injury is different to the 'getting better' from psychological injury or loss. This is particularly true of loss - as there may be nothing to see, someone special is 'not there' anymore. Rather it is a difference in feelings. It is also important to recognise that for children, adolescents and families grief takes place over time, bit by bit; and that love, nurturance and healing help them to 'recover' from these experiences. 

Beverley Raphael
Chairperson
ACATLGN

Continuing the healing journey
Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network
This booklet was developed for parents and other carers of children following the Victorian bushfires. However, the booklet is helpful for any child or family that has been affected by a natural disaster. The booklet discusses the medium to long term effects that natural disasters may have on children and adolescents and what parents and carers can do to support children in the long term. 

Children's perspectives on dealing with traumatic events
Journal of Loss and Trauma, Vol 16, 2011
This research article documents a study undertaken with 8 - 12 year olds who experienced a single incident trauma. The study reports on how children recovered following the trauma and also what supports they found were beneficial to them during the period of their recovery. 

Research on bereaved children and teenagers
National Alliance for Grieving Children, US
The National Alliance for Grieving Children polled 531 children and teenagers across the United States between November 2011 and January 2012. All of these children had lost either a sibling or parent, on average, 2 years prior to being surveyed. The results of the survey show the longer term impact the grief has had on the children and what is most important to them following their loss. You can also read an article outlining the study here. 

Life in the aftermath: A summary of the literature on individual and family functioning following natural disasters
Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)
This article from the AIFS newsletter discusses the how individuals, children and families recover following natural disasters. It reviews literature in the area and discusses what factors may help to promote recovery. 

Children of the tsunami
The Diplomat, 8 March 2012. 
This news article reports on a BBC documentary featuring children who were effected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The children talk about the lasting impact this disaster has had on them and their lives. 

The long road back
The Australian
This article from 2011 discusses the aftermath of natural disasters and the road to recovery afterwards. It particularly focuses on the difficulties families and communities in Christchurch faced following the earthquake due to the presence of continuing threat in the form of tremors and aftershocks. 

Refugee young people and resettlement
Centre for Multicultural Youth
This information sheet is directed towards people who may be working with young people who have come to Australia as refugees. It explains some of the difficulties and traumatic events that the young person may have encountered and how this impacts on their ability to resettle. It also explains the difficulties that the young person may also face during the resettlement and recovery period. 

Grief, loss and trauma
Australian Indigenous Health Infonet
This website contains a number of resources that are specifically related to grief and loss as experienced by Indigenous people. It contains a list of research, publications and other resources. 

Talking to children about parental mental illness
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
This tipsheet from COPMI contains information on why we should talk to kids about parental mental illness and what we can say to children about parental mental illness. 

Think about dad
Children of Parents with a Mental Illness (COPMI)
COPMI has created a suite of materials for dads who have (or whose partner has) a mental illness, to help them with their parenting. Packs will be sent out for free and contain a poster, information sheets and other material. 

Stronger siblings
Siblings Australia
Siblings Australia has released a new DVD that will assist parents and those who work with families to understand the experience of brothers and sisters of a child with disability and how to support them. 

Child Maltreatment
Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development (EECD), Canada
The EECD have released a number of new documents and resources relating to child maltreatment. All of these resources are free to download from their website and include overviews on child abuse and neglect and a report on the impact of child maltreatment on psychosocial development. 

The Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention: Secondary prevention for youth at risk of developing PTSD
Berkowitz et al (2010). Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry.
This research article outlines a pilot study that demonstrated good outcomes for a short term intervention aimed at decreasing post traumatic stress symptoms amongst adolescents who had been exposed to a single incident trauma. The intervention, Child and Family Traumatic Stress Intervention (CFTSI), focuses on increasing communication between the child and primary caregiver, support from the primary caregiver and symptom management. 

More kids turning violent
Herald Sun, 6 March 2012
This news article discusses recent statistics of young people involved in violent crimes and the impact that early trauma may have on these offenders. 

Grief of Japan's tsunami survivors
BBC News, 8 March 2012
This news article discusses the lasting impact that the Japan earthquake and tsunami has had on the people of Japan. 

Vulnerable children in Victoria may have found their champion
Sydney Morning Herald, 9 March 2012
This news article discusses the findings of the recent child protection inquiry in Victoria. 

Aboriginal children to get advocate
The Age, 11 March 2012
This article reports that Victoria is set to appoint its first Aboriginal children's commissioner. 

Surge in abuse reports stretch crisis services to breaking point
The Age, 4 March 2012
This news article discusses the incidences of reports to police of family violence in Victoria. 

Assaults on kids by parents are on the rise
Herald Sun, 5 March 2012
This news report cites rising figures of reports of child abuse, especially in the 10 - 14 year old age group. 

Disasters affect children too
The Canberra Times, 18 March 2012
This report discusses the impact that natural disasters may have on children and what can be done to support them. 

Research finds factors leading to cyber-bullying different to traditional bullying
Australian Catholic University
This report outlines how the factors leading to cyber-bullying differ from those associated by traditional bullying. 

National Centre Against Bullying Conference
June 2012, Melbourne
This conference will explore the ways young people use social media for connecting, learning and creating and how social media can be used to support young people with a disability. 

Divorce in the nursery: Infants and overnight care post separation and divorce
Australian Association for Infant Mental Health Inc
11th May 2012, Canberra

Remember to check the Events and Activities pages of the earlytraumagrief website to find out about more conferences and training taking place Australia wide.