Since the devastating impact of the 2019 Queensland monsoons and flooding, the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) has strived to ensure that an appropriate response exists to assist students coping with natural disasters. Stormbirds and Seasons for Growth fit the bill perfectly: they are evidence-based psychoeducation programs that assist children and young people following change, loss, grief and natural disaster events.In 2020, QCEC collaborated with The MacKillop Institute and MacKillop Family Services to deliver the programs to students in the dioceses of Townsville, Cairns and Rockhampton. The project was made possible following the successful application for funding through the Commonwealth / State Disaster Recovery Funding - FNQ and NQ Monsoon Trough - Category C Flexible Funding Grants Program. This meant that the usual challenges that schools face when seeking access and funding of resources were largely avoided.READ MORE