Health and Wellbeing Contexts

Wellbeing contexts involve parental psychological disturbances, parental drug abuse, parental traumas, losses, and abuse or neglect. These wellbeing contexts have a lot in common with family structures. When it comes to one-carer families, a single carer who experiences mental illness or drug addiction has no other adult to compensate for possible care failures, which makes it more likely that there will be inconsistencies in the child's daily routine. The issue of unresolved traumas or grief related to past relationships, for example the death of a spouse or divorce, becomes relevant in step-families.

It is important to note that attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969) is a key concept for this matter, as the development of a secure base requires consistent and attuned care in early childhood, whereas parental mental illness, substance use, or trauma can interfere with the availability of the caregiver, even though they are loving and well-meaning. The principles of attachment theory have influenced ECEC practice through trauma-informed care, where child behaviour is understood as communication. Meanwhile, Grace et al. (2022) state that early childhood educators are usually the first to notice signs of family problems.

Mental health problems have become an increasingly prevalent problem among Australian citizens, and mostly among the youth. From the data provided by the AIHW report for 2026, while the average percentage of people having mental illnesses in Australia is fairly constant at around 22%, there is an alarming increase from 26% to 39% among people aged 16–24 years from 2007 to 2020–22. The seriousness of the problem is made clear when it is noted that about half of all adult mental health problems start before reaching 14 years of age. It is particularly worrying when considering that one in seven children between the ages of 4–17 has a diagnosable mental health problem and more than half of the children suffering from mental problems do not receive professional assistance (National Mental Health Commission [NMHC], 2021). Also especially at risk are the children whose parents have suffered from any mental illness. The LSAC study is Australia's main longitudinal study on how family-related stress, parenting, and health contribute to the development of children, as well as a research summary devoted to family domestic violence (DSS, n.d.).

According to the ABS General Social Survey, adults with mental illnesses experience cumulative disadvantages and are overrepresented as parents and carers. In 2025, this particular demographic was experiencing more discrimination (31% compared to 18%), severe distress (31% compared to 9%), and access difficulties for services (37% compared to 26%) than the overall general population. The pressure of being a parent-carer has a direct negative impact on the caregiving environment for these individuals. One of the factors that affects the youth is the cost of living problem; the data collected by Mission Australia shows that the percentage of 15–19-year-olds identifying the cost of living as the main national problem increased from 31% in 2023 to 56% in 2024 and 64% in 2025.

Children whose parents have mental health issues or addiction problems may experience inconsistent caregiving practices, have unpredictable routines and display low achievement levels both academically and socially due to their parents' psychological problems (NMHC, 2021). Exposure to trauma in childhood, whether through family violence, bereavement or abuse, has been shown to result in dysregulation of the stress response, which can manifest as excessive reactivity, avoidance and struggles with transitions and relationships in an ECEC setting. Bereavement from parental death or high-conflict divorce in blended families is something that may affect the stability of the family for many years without being obvious, manifesting itself only later in children's behaviour. For ECEC services, all these aspects require trauma-sensitive, relationship-based practice, a flexible attitude to children's behaviour and close cooperation with families, which may be hesitant to report their problems because of stigma and fear of child protection.

Australia's first nationwide strategy regarding the mental wellbeing of children up to age 12, the National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (NMHC, 2021), recognises children whose parents have mental illness as one of the priorities of work. In addition to it, there is the Be You program that provides mental health support and educational resources for early childhood educators across the country. In order to fill the knowledge gap about prevalence rates, the government has funded the Young Minds, Our Future study until 2026. CYMHS in Queensland provides regional pathways that can be used by the services within their partnerships. All the above strategies impact practice in ECEC, as educators are required to participate in Be You professional development.

The unique role of educators as being able to act as early interveners is noted by Grace et al. (2022), which explains why these approaches are based on trauma-informed approaches. The following evidence-based strategies to increase the resilience of children and their families facing health and wellbeing issues include:

These professionals collaborate with ECEC services through joint care planning, professional development in trauma-informed practice, and warm referral for families needing specialist mental health or substance-use support.

These resources equip educators to notice early signs of family stress and to respond within their professional role.

When used together, these resources develop children's coping vocabulary and offer educators simple tools for promoting emotional resilience and reducing stigma regarding family health issues.