MENTAL HEALTH THE

PARENT separation can be a difficult time for children of any age, and the media is often filled with messages around the negative impact that separation has on a child’s wellbeing.

However, the truth is that the factors predicting child wellbeing in separated families are the same as those in non-separated families. It is normal to expect a period of age-appropriate adjustment to a big change like this, but there are some things you can do to assist your child following parental separation.

One of the most important things you can do to help children with separation and divorce anxiety is to listen to their concerns and validate their feelings.

Make time for difficult conversations with your children. Talk about the separation and what has happened. It is important to let them know that it is okay to feel sad, angry, or scared and to reassure them that you will be there for them no matter what.

Teach your child skills to cope and stay safe. Teach them ways to express their feelings as well as protective behaviours like learning to listen to their body, trust their feelings and instincts, and tell you or others about their needs.

You can help children feel more secure with established routines, stability and predictability and sticking to them as much as possible, even during change.

Where possible, encourage the other parents to keep the same rules and routines at all houses the child spends time at and keep a consistent schedule around when the child sees each parent.

Respect the other parent. Continue shared responsibility for children whenever it is safe to do so. This means each parent supporting the other parent in maintaining (or building) a strong relationship with the child and creating a cooperative relationship with each other.

Avoid blaming or bad mouthing the other parent to your child, talking to them about your relationship problems and limit the exposure children must high emotionally conflict, verbal and physical violence.

There is overwhelming evidence that the strongest single predictor of negative child outcomes are family violence and inter-parent conflict. Parental separations that remove children from home environments where there is chronic conflict and violence improves the wellbeing of the child.

Seek your own support. The better you are coping, the better your children will cope. Your healing is very important to your children. Finally, stay positive! don’t despair – most children manage the separation experience in the longer term.

mind in avoiding allegations of trespass.

This permission will also usually result in information being passed on about current road conditions, fire restrictions, water levels and hazards.

If you do plan to camp on private property you need to check, you have permission to camp and use any waterways.

You also need to know that entering any body of water or dry riverbeds from private land will also require you to have permission to be on that land

HUNTING

If you’re going hunting, please remember you need to seek the permission of the landowner before entering the property boundary.

Do not poach. You are not allowed to hunt from any gazetted road, either with guns, on foot or with dogs.

WILDLIFE

Taking of any wildlife, including feral animals such as pigs without the permission of the landowner is an offence against the Nature Conservation Act and will incur heavy penalties.

WEAPONS

All weapons must be stored correctly while travelling.

Visit the weapons licensing page at www.police.qld.gov.au/units/weaponslicensing for more information on correct weapon storage in vehicles.

Remember, shut the gate.

Always leave a gate the way you found it if you’re visiting any rural property.

Do your research on where you plan to stay. Remember just because there is no fence does not mean it is vacant land.

Visit www.qld.gov.au/recreation/activities/camping/locations

Where appropriate, collaborative dispute resolution processes such as mediation is recommended over litigation; and where there are concerns relating to a parent having contact with the child, our services can provide a safe solution.

Better Together’s fully-funded, Children’s Contact Centre can provide safe and supportive contact between children and their non-resident parents. Our main focus is child safety and we can help you through the process to have contact with your child. We are fully funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services. For more information you can call or text the Children’s Contact Centre coordinator on 0427 913 850.

If you are feeling unsafe or are experiencing domestic and family violence you can access support here by going to www.dvcairns.org or www.wirc.org.au/athertonservices

The information provided is from Better Together Community Services. This advice may not suit your personal situation and therefore cannot substitute real psychological advice. Please consult a professional if this has raised issues for you. You can contact our Professional Psychological Services for an appointment on 4091 3850.