Shadow Pandemic group’s radical plan to save ‘most locked-down children in the world’

A parenting group has unveiled a radical plan to help “the most locked-down children in the world” recover from Covid-19.

A new ministerial portfolio and public holiday are part of the push from a Victorian parent advocacy group to help the “most locked down children in the world” recover from the impacts of Covid.

Shadow Pandemic group conveners Moran Dvir and Jacquie Blackwell spoke to the Pandemic Declaration Accountability and Oversight Committee at state parliament on Friday about the mental health effects the pandemic had on the public.

The group has outlined a nine-point plan to help children recover after spending the better part of two years at home.

It includes creating a children’s recovery minister at state and federal levels, a “Victorian Childhood Day” public holiday on October 21 and legislation that would ensure schools are the last to close and first to reopen in any future pandemic.

Moran Dvir is one of the conveners of the Shadow Pandemic. Picture: Supplied

The role of children’s recovery minister would be separate from Victoria’s education and mental health portfolios, with the Shadow Pandemic saying an “accountable person” needed to lead the recovery.

The proposed public holiday coincides with the last day of lockdown in 2021 and would include free family vouchers for attractions like zoos, theme parks, restaurants and museums.

Other proposed ideas include free holiday programs for low socio-economic or vulnerable families, an independent panel of health experts to review all government policies that affect children, and subsidised membership for community clubs and sports.

Ms Dvir and Ms Blackwell said they wanted to ensure their children’s lives were not affected by Covid forever after their physical and emotional development had been “irrefutably marred”.

“We ask the Victorian government and the opposition to urgently implement a plan that is centred around children and youth and their psychological, social, economic, educational and physical recovery,” they said.

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

“Let’s restore our children’s childhood. Let’s get our kids on the path to recovery.”

Education and Mental Health Minister James Merlino has subsequently slammed the idea of an additional public holiday and said the government was focused on helping kids recover from the impacts of the pandemic.

Education and Mental Health Minister James Merlino has hit back at the group’s suggestions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

“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.”

The Shadow Pandemic has since said the proposed holiday would be a day to celebrate childhood.

“As a parent lobby group, we are proud to have a consultative, open process in determining and lobbying the best way forward for our kids,” they said.

“The purpose of the Victorian Childhood Day – whether a public holiday or not – is putting our children front and centre and restoring childhood to its rightful place.”

The group shared testimonies at state parliament last week from parents, families, teachers, doctors and allied health professionals on what children had experienced during lockdown.

They included accounts of eating disorders, school refusal, anxiety and self-harm.

Originally published as Shadow Pandemic group’s radical plan to save ‘most locked-down children in the world’