16 May 2022

Paediatricians and physicians from the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP) say children face enormous setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and are urging political parties to commit to addressing them.

The RACP says it has been positive to see some commitments made to specific mental health initiatives for young people. But without a national coordinated approach to helping children and young people recover from the pandemic, many will fall through the cracks.

RACP President and Paediatrician, Dr Jacqueline Small says “We’re losing the opportunity to help this generation of young people catch up from the setbacks of the pandemic.

“Whether it’s the loss of learning from missed face-to-face teaching, the emotional impact of reduced social connection with their peers, or the lack of access to sport, recreational, and cultural activities, the pandemic has overturned many parts of children’s lives. 

“There is an urgent need for a national recovery plan to help the nation’s children catch up from the setbacks of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As a developmental paediatrician I see this in my work every day. Children have faced so many challenges and hurdles for over two years and some of those impacts are yet to be realised.

“This is why we need a National Chief Paediatrician to lead the way and be an important clinical voice for the health and wellbeing of young people in Australia.”

The Kids COVID Catch Up campaign has brought together medical specialists, healthcare professionals, families, and young people from across the country to call on all parties to commit to:

• Establish a National COVID-19 taskforce to lead a recovery plan
• Appoint and fund a National Chief Paediatrician
• Fund and implement the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy
• Increase Commonwealth funding for evidence-based school support, such as tutoring, for students with disability or learning difficulties
• Implement universal access to early education programs for all three-year olds
• Restrict marketing of unhealthy diets to children and young people through regulation

The College is concerned that reports that children in Australia who were developmentally “on track” across five key areas in 2021 had decreased from 2018. This is the first national fall since 2009 and highlights the need to help our kids catch up.

Find out more about the RACP’s Kids COVID Catch Up Campaign: https://kidscatchup.org.au/

Authorised by Peter McIntyre, CEO, The Royal Australasian College of Physicians, 145 Macquarie Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000