Lobby group of parents calls for government action on the ‘shadow pandemic’

A group of Victorian parents are demanding action on the government’s plan to re-open schools amid lockdown.

Shadow Pandemic Victoria has established a taskforce of paediatricians, child psychologists and educators to provide a report that will highlight the mental, social and educational impacts constant lockdowns due to COVID-19 are having on kids.

Jacquie Blackwell, Shadow Pandemic Victoria, told Tom Elliott kids needed to be the “top priority” for government.

“I feel like this generation of children are suffering in a way that is not fair,” she said.

“A few people say ‘the kids should be resilient’ but this is more than resilience, this is almost two years of them not going to school, not seeing their friends, and it’s something the government won’t be drawn on.

“They won’t answer the question.”

Press PLAY below to hear Jacquie explain why they’ve taken up the cause

Picture by Getty iStock