Shadow Pandemic group lobbying for October public holiday to recognise lockdown kids

A parents’ group is pushing for a new Victorian public holiday to recognise the suffering of the “most locked-down children in the world”.

A public holiday would be established in October to celebrate Victorian children under a radical new plan from a prominent parent lobby advocacy group.

The Shadow Pandemic group – which launched in August last year after it staged a protest against the Andrews government’s Covid restrictions – is demanding the day in a bid to recognise the suffering of the “most locked-down children in the world”.

The group, which fronted the pandemic declaration committee in parliament last week to detail dozens of testimonies from Victorian parents, teachers and doctors impacted by mental health caused by lockdown measures, has unveiled a nine-point plan to achieve full child recovery.

The plan includes establishing a dedicated Victorian Children’s Recovery Minister, who would be responsible for leading an entirely separate portfolio to James Merlino, who is the state’s Education and Mental Health Minister.

It would also introduce legislation that states that schools are closed last and reopened first in any future pandemics. The government maintains this policy is already in place.

Its plan to introduce a public holiday – dubbed the Victorian Childhood Day – would fall on October 21 to coincide with the last day of lockdown in 2021.

On that day, vouchers would be given to families to spend at zoos, theme parks, restaurants, museums and other attractions.

Shadow Pandemic convener Moran Dvir. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Shadow Pandemic conveners Moran Dvir and Jacquie Blackwell said the day would celebrate childhood and allow kids to turn their screens off, engage with the outdoors and reinforce their right to a “normal childhood”.

“Our children have lost so much. It’s time to put them first,” they said.

“Our children’s lives should not be forever limited by decisions taken by the Victorian government in 2020 and 2021.”

But Mr Merlino rubbished the group’s pitch for another day out of the classroom.

“From a group that spent every day of 2021 calling the government irresponsible for keeping students at home to slow the spread of coronavirus, a call to pull them out of school for another day is frankly ridiculous,” he said.

“We’re focused on delivering a genuine recovery from the pandemic for young Victorians — from youth mental health to individual education support programs, we’re making sure every single young Victorian has the support they need as we move beyond these challenging years.”

Ms Dvir and Ms Blackwell have recounted dozens of examples of Victorian children self-harming, suffering from eating disorders, anxiety and depression.

They highlighted instances where children had become addicted to electronics or had become isolated in their bedrooms, refusing to go to school.