Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Sarah Courtney,Minister for Education and Training
The tragedy that has occurred at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport is truly heartbreaking and unfathomable for those involved.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the families, friends, and loved ones of everyone affected by this tragedy, which has seen five children lose their lives.
For the three children who remain in hospital, our thoughts and prayers are with them.
To the families affected by this tragedy, Tasmania stands with you.
Any loss of a child is devastating, with enormous anguish being felt across Tasmania, as well as interstate and across the world. For many who witnessed this terrible event, the impacts will be profound.
To our first responders, our education staff, our health workers, and our mental health clinicians: we say thank you.
On a day that saw devastating heartbreak, community spirit undeniably has come to the fore.
For our school community, this is a time of immense sadness and grief for so many. Educators often refer to their students as if they were their own children and we recognise the devastation being felt deeply at this time throughout the school community.
We have spoken to many people over the past 24 hours, and have been moved by their experience. Like many close-knit communities across Tasmania, the North-West community has wrapped their arms around those families involved to provide support and care.
The Department of Health and the Department of Education have mobilised significant state-wide resources to ensure staff across our school and health systems, as well as the community, are supported during this extremely difficult time and to support local social recovery resources.
Our locally-based allied health team and employee assistance teams play a tremendously important role in assisting health workers and patients through challenging events and we have deployed their expertise with additional resources from around the State.
The Department’s Chief Medical Officer, Prof. Tony Lawler, and Ambulance Tasmania Chief Executive, Joe Acker, have been in the North-West since yesterday. Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Aaron Groves, is also in the North-West to assist the local response, as is Prof. Brett McDermott, the Statewide Specialty Clinical Director for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services who specialises in disaster response in children and trauma-focused care, to ensure those impacted receive the necessary help, if and when they need it.
The Department of Education has also actively reached out to offer any support those families directly impacted require and will continue to be in contact with families through the weekend, and going into the holidays, to ensure they can access and receive the support they need. The Department of Education is also currently utilising the team of professional support staff in the North-West, including school psychologists, social workers and chaplains, to assist in supporting children and families.
If you are in need of someone to talk to, there is help available:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
A Tasmanian Lifeline 1800 98 44 34
Our community is standing as one at this time and with love, care and kindness, we will get through this tragedy together.
