The 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires had devastating effects on many families in Australia. These disasters show how vulnerable persons can often be overlooked. In particular, infants and young children who are dependent on others for care. Meeting specific needs creates challenges for parents in emergencies. This includes nutrition and developing immune systems. 

That is why the Australian Breastfeeding Association (ABA) undertook the Community Protection for Infants and Young Children in Bushfire Emergencies Project. The project is helping families improve planning to reduce their vulnerability before, during and after a disaster. 

Learning lessons from the past  

The first stage of this project was in collaboration with Western Sydney University. It examined personal experiences from the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires. 233 parents or caregivers, and 63 emergency responders were included. The Babies and Young Children in the Black Summer (BiBS) study results were released in June 2024. They showed: 

• There is a lack of emergency planning guidance for families with infants and young children 
• Packing items for babies and children caused delays in evacuation for parents 
• Parents often evacuated without crucial items, such as food or nappies 
• Parents often neglected their own needs over the need of their young children  
• Evacuation centres did not always meet the needs of pregnant women and families with babies or toddlers. 

The second stage of the project put the findings into action. Resources were created to help organisations and families make bushfire plans. Being better prepared has significant benefits for babies and young children experiencing these situations.  

A celebration of efforts 

The project team recently hosted an event at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens NSW. 

The community celebrated efforts to protect young children and babies during disaster. It was a great way to honour the work that has been done. 

Although the project is wrapping up, the work is not finished yet. The knowledge gained from this project will guide disaster preparedness in the Eurobodalla Shire and beyond. 

Supporting positive outcomes 

This is an Australian Government funded initiative. In 2022, the ABA received $684,800 from the Preparing Australian Communities Program – Local grant stream. 

This funding supported the initial research, community workshops, events and resources.  The ABA’s work is key in creating awareness of the unique needs of young families in emergencies. 

This knowledge has helped improve resources for emergency planning, guidance, and interventions.