Dear Parents, Staff and Students
These few lines follow the recent distressing events that have occurred at Bondi and at Fairfield.
It is important to acknowledge that such events impact all in various ways. Some may have direct connections to those impacted, many more might be feeling anxious and a sense of pain and suffering felt as we mourn the traumatic incidents.
Firstly, can I encourage all to take to their prayer those who have suffered and continue to be impacted from these tragic events. We pray for greater unity, for healing and for peace and we thank God for the work of the first responders, particularly the police and paramedics who serve our community.
Emergencies and disasters such as these can be extremely stressful and it is normal to feel overwhelmed, even angry, sad or have feelings of hopelessness. If you, or someone you know is struggling there are a number of supports, counselling and resources available for you and your families, including:
AccessEAP (1800 818 728) AccessEAP
Lifeline (13 11 14) Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14 – Crisis Support. Suicide Prevention.
Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636) Beyond Blue | 24/7 Support for Anxiety, Depression and Suicide Prevention – Beyond Blue
Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800) Kids Helpline | Phone Counselling Service | 1800 55 1800
Headspace (1800 650 890) headspace National Youth Mental Health Foundation
Our Schools are an important protective environment for children and young people who have experienced a traumatic event in the community. The relationships and routines of our schools provide a sense of safety for our children and young people. There are a number of resources to guide the role of schools in supporting students after a traumatic event:
BeYou The role of schools in supporting students after a traumatic event – Be You
Emerging Minds Community trauma toolkit – Emerging Minds
Witnessing traumatic events takes a toll on our emotional wellbeing. From news to social media, absorbing narratives deeply affects us. Understanding and addressing this impact is crucial for maintaining our own mental health and wellbeing. The eSafety Commissioner has issued a warning about the circulation of distressing content and provided a fact sheet in the management and response to this.
Distressing or violent content | How to get help | eSafety Commissioner
Please be assured, our CSBB staff and student wellbeing partners are available to support you, and our students as we respond and meet the specific needs of our school communities.
Danny Casey
Director of Schools, Catholic Schools Broken Bay