Section 9: Looking to the future In the AHRC’s report on the impacts of COVID-19 on children using Kids Helpline, children indicated that school closures had an impact on their ability to access mental health support. Some school-aged children with existing mental health concerns mentioned that they missed seeing the school counsellor, who was their regular form of support.60 Key stakeholders emphasised that schools are in a unique position to help children with their mental health: Schools are obviously a really important place and, you know, a good school counsellor can really help to pick up early signs and really can help wrap supports around someone. Young people go to schools first. They are a community hub and should be educating parents about mental health and where to go for help. In roundtables, stakeholders suggested schools be designed not only to provide education for children, but as hubs for promoting wellbeing for everyone in the community—including students, families, and staff. This would support schools to deliver mental health and wellbeing activities relevant to that community and help to breakdown stigma associated with seeking mental health support. They also pointed out that the wellbeing of teachers and school staff has been negatively impacted by the pandemic due to the increased responsibilities and stresses placed on them during the period. Teachers need to be mentally and physically healthy themselves in order to effectively support the mental health of their students. They also highlighted that while schools are in a unique position to help children, not all children attend mainstream schools, and others attend sporadically, or not at all. Hence, there needs to be ways to engage and support diverse sections of the community. 126 | For some parents, the key lesson from the pandemic was for the government to prioritise children and try to avoid shutting schools in pandemic situations: tting o i d shu . The v a o t Tr y gain ever a n’s s l o o h sc dre on chil t c ld be e f f e h sho u lt a e h re d mental consi de y l l u f re ver y ca he effects of t against . us er, VIC the vir —Moth Get th em scho ol— back to prioriti se childre n for g o o dness sakes. —Moth er, VIC Children’s participation is a foundation for wellbeing, as it can empower children in the face of instability and uncertainty. Stakeholders suggested that children should be involved in designing and evaluating policies and programs about mental and wellbeing, including in schools. Some parents/guardians and grandparents also said the pandemic had highlighted the importance of listening to children and making them a priority in government policies. They said that children should be prioritised and have a voice in government policy and future pandemic responses. This was also emphasised in interviews with key stakeholders, who said children should be offered a seat at the policy-making table and be able to express their views authentically. One key stakeholder said: Kids continue to amaze us with how much they know. They’re not on the back foot anymore. The wisdom and insight of kids hasn’t been at the table … but it can be going forward … We just have to lean in and ask. The United Nations Economic and Social Council Annual Youth Forum in 2022 pointed out that the inclusion of children in planning for the postpandemic future is critical.61 Having child-specific plans is one way of ensuring that children’s wellbeing is prioritised. In the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 inquiry in 2022, UNICEF commented that in order to chart a durable pathway out of the pandemic, Australia needs a national plan for children and young people that lays the longterm foundations for their health, development and wellbeing.62 The Senate Select Committee recommended that the Australian Government commission a review into the impacts of the pandemic on children. It also recommended evaluating the effectiveness of existing plans for working with and responding appropriately to the needs of vulnerable people during a pandemic and implementing updated plans accordingly, including for children.63 (d) Prioritising children and giving them a voice The high response rate to the survey by children—4,559 children—over a relatively short period of time suggests that children are keen to speak out about their experiences of the pandemic. Stakeholders in roundtables said that children were aware that they were not made a priority in the pandemic response. Stakeholders also pointed out that it is important for children’s mental health that children are included in discussions and are part of developing solutions to problems, including those faced in the pandemic. ‘Mental health shapes my life’: COVID-19 & kids’ wellbeing • 2022 | 127