Layla’s last year at school was severely impacted by both flooding and fires, highlighting the increasingly dire effect of climate-related catastrophes on the educational experiences of young individuals in Australia.

Kangaroo Valley faced severe natural disasters, including fires and floods, three times in three years. In 2019, Layla Wang’s family had to flee their home due to the black summer bushfires. Then, in 2022, floods and landslides isolated the valley, causing Layla to spend several stressful weeks without access to her school and limited resources during her final year of high school, which she believes affected her chances of pursuing her desired degree. Experts and advocates are concerned about the lifelong consequences of disasters on young people, as these events become more frequent and severe. A report by Deloitte, commissioned by Unicef Australia, estimates that disasters will cost up to $100 billion between now and 2060 due to the impact on young people aged up to 24. The report highlights the importance of keeping students connected to learning after a disaster and provides information on the financial and mental health impacts, particularly for children and young people. Unicef Australia is calling for the government to create a policy framework to support young people during and after natural disasters, emphasizing the need for education and mental health support, as well as assistance for families experiencing hardship. Wang, now studying and working as a climate ambassador, believes that additional support during multiple disasters would have been helpful and feels that young people, especially those in regional areas, are often overlooked in disaster recovery efforts.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/11/natural-disasters-forecast-cost-australia-young-people-unicef