There’s never a good time for an emergency situation to happen, but sometimes we’re powerless to what life throws at us. So if you have an accident, become seriously ill, are coping with grief, or if there’s a natural disaster – what do you do when disaster strikes?
It can be easy to freak out about things that are out of our control, but there are a few things to remember that might help alleviate anxiety. Sometimes you can’t avoid a crisis, but there are steps you can take to make it easier to manage. Don’t forget, you’re never alone, and there will always be someone to give you the help you need.
You are the priority
Firstly, remember that you’ll never be penalised for events that are beyond your control, and that the most important thing is to take care of yourself.
If you can’t be at school or an exam
- Reach out – if you don’t tell anyone about what’s going on, they won’t be able to help. You can talk about what’s going on with a trusted adult, and they may be able to offer some resources or other options. It never hurts to have a helping hand.
- Contact the school – You’ll need to do this ASAP, as they’ll want to know that you’re ok and start making alternative arrangements for you. Plus, if you leave it too late, it might be harder for them to make special consideration adjustments.
- Get a medical certificate -This is especially important in the case of missing an exam. Your GP or hospital should be able to provide you with one, and these days there are also options for getting one online or via telehealth. General medical centres also sometimes take walk-ins free of charge.
If you’re already in an exam and start to feel unwell
- Let the moderator know – they’ll arrange for you to leave the room and school can help you get the help you need.
- Get a medical certificate – by obtaining this ASAP and giving it to the school, the exam board may be able to use an internal mark as a reference to calculate a replacement exam mark
If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis
- Seek professional or medical help – there are plenty of mental health resources available out there, and having a professional on hand is one of the best ways to address a mental health crisis head on. If this is a bit daunting, try 5 ways to get mental health support without talking on the phone.
- Let your school know – they also need to be aware of what’s happened, so keep them updated. Again, they can only help you if they know about what’s going on.
- Get a medical certificate – medical certificates are also necessary in these instances, so that exams can be rescheduled or alternative arrangements made to get you back on track with your studies.
It’s important to know that the steps for navigating a mental health crisis is the same as any other serious medical crisis. Mental health is just as valid as a physically manifesting illness, and you are entitled to support just the same.
Educational disadvantage
Years 11 and 12 are formative years of schooling, especially when preparing for the transition from secondary school to higher education. If something happens and your education is negatively impacted, your final grades may also be impacted as a result.
If you’ve suffered from situations like chronic illness, a learning disability, a death or other difficult family situation, mental illness or any other big upheaval in your life, chances are such experiences will affect your learning ability. Don’t worry – most universities and tertiary admissions centres will have a process to make allowances for these kinds of exceptional circumstances.
Get more information from your relevant institution about the application process and any bonus points that you may be eligible for. Most universities also have a student support hub, so don’t hesitate to reach out and make the most of the support you are entitled to at this difficult time.
Emergency situations during school time
From lockdowns to fire alarms, your school is sure to have emergency procedures in place for your safety.
You’ll no doubt have practised these drills at school, but if you can’t remember what you’re supposed to do, remain calm and follow the instructions given by your teachers and other staff.
Once any potential danger has passed, you’ll probably just have to go back to class and carry on with your day. Usually when an emergency happens at school other entities like police or fire-fighters will be called in, so once they give the all clear you should be able to rest assured that they’ve disposed of any threat to your safety.
In the very unlikely event that returning to class isn’t possible, your school will let you know what’s going to happen and contact your parents or carers to update them. They’ll always ensure you’re safe, so be sure to follow directions.
Disasters outside of school hours
If there’s a bushfire, cyclone or other natural disaster near your home or school, (or that is predicted to affect those areas), your school will advise your parents if they’ll be open and the protocols in place for if there’s any change.
In all cases, if it’s not safe for you to travel, or you cannot get to school – call the office if possible and wait until it’s safe to sort out what can be done about any missed work or exams.
If you’re in Year 11 and 12, you can find out more about management plans and reasonable adjustment processes for your state or territory here:
- New South Wales
- Victoria
- Queensland
- Australian Capital Territory
- Western Australia
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
Always contact your school for advice
No matter what happens, keeping an open line of communication with your school will allow them to help you, and do what’s best for your health and wellbeing.
They’ll always have up to date information about the steps you’ll need to take and help you implement any action that you’ll need to undertake.
Want more?
You can check out more wellbeing tips and advice on our website here.