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Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN)

The Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN) is a national network that works with experts from around Australia to increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of trauma, loss and adversity on children and young people.

The ACATLGN is a web based resource that aims to provide high quality information and educational resources, and to make them freely accessible to professionals.

The Network addresses the trauma, loss and grief experiences of children and adolescents across a wide range of childhood adversities in two general areas that are relevant for young people in Australia today:

1. Specific adversities

Abuse, neglect and violence, disasters and mass adversities, medical traumas and injuries; family disruption; parental mental health; bullying; grief and bereavement; homelessness and poverty; and involvement with the justice system.

2. Settings/contexts

Family structures functioning and complexity; early childhood settings and services; educational settings and services; Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families; rural and remote communities; out of home care; mental health and primary care; and refugee and migrant families.

ACATLGN also includes the Trauma Grief Network (TGN) supporting families website, developed specifically for parents, carers and the broader community.

Recommended links

This information was originally published on healthdirect - Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss & Grief Network (ACATLGN).

Last reviewed: July 2021

Information from this partner

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Supporting your child when a parent is in jail

In Australia, approximately 50% of all prisoners are parents. This leaves many, many children who are affected by their parent being incarcerated. Of course the imprisonment of the child’s parent not only affects just the child, but also affects the extended family as a whole.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

We are strong and proud! Strengths for us and our mob

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander = strong and proud! As Indigenous people we can heal the effects of the past. We can heal some of the past trauma that we’ve experienced and get through the tough times we face now. We can use our culture to help us heal.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Indigenous Parents and Carers: How might trauma, loss and grief affect your bub?

This article contains the following sections: What is trauma? What is loss and grief? How might this affect your children? How can you tell? What can you do? Who can you contact?

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

When a child loses a pet

Dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles, sheep and all other kinds of animals in different shapes and sizes have a special place in the heart of the children in their lives.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Kids in rural and remote areas: Coping with tough times

Children and young people face many different potentially traumatic, adverse and stressful experiences while they are growing up. But for kids growing up in rural and remote areas, the chance that a child will be confronted with trauma or adversity is even greater

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Supporting your child through times of financial hardship

Coping with tough times can be hard for everyone, but it can be especially difficult when you have a family to worry about too. One of the main stresses that can be placed on a family is the stress of financial hardship

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Supporting your child through Grief and Loss

Both adults and children are likely to experience a range of feelings after the loss of someone special, including sadness, fear, anxiety, confusion, disbelief, guilt and anger.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Protecting Children from Harm and Trauma during Family Conflict

This tipsheet was created for parents and other adult care-givers. It explains the impact of family conflict on children, and encourages them to find better ways to resolve their differences.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Psychological First Aid for Children and Adolescents

“Psychological First Aid” is a term used like physical first aid, to describe strategies to assess and protect people in an emergency which threatens their lives or wellbeing.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

Refugees and asylum seekers: Supporting recovery from trauma

Globally around 24 million people are refugees or displaced persons fleeing war, conflict and discrimination. Around one third of these are children and adolescents, and 10% are less than 5 years of age. Infants and children are amongst the most vulnerable in situations of war and conflict.

Read more on Australian Child and Adolescent Trauma, Loss and Grief Network (ACATLGN) website

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