Following this year's major disruption to schooling caused by COVID-19, a national survey has revealed how 2021 affected students and their families.
The Smith Family surveyed its frontline team members to better understand how the pandemic and lockdowns impacted on kids' engagement with their education.
About 77 per cent of support workers surveyed said based on feedback from parents or schools, the students they support missed learning as a direct result of lockdowns.
A total of 75 per cent of family support workers also said they had seen an impact on students' motivation to learn.
The same percentage of survey respondents said some students were at risk of disengaging with their learning as a result of disruption caused by COVID-19.
Alarmingly, 45 per cent stated some students were at risk of not returning to school when they fully re-opened, or in 2022.
As home-schooling picked up pace during school closures, students were forced to rely on technology in their own homes. A high percentage (87 per cent) stated digital issues were continuing to affect students and families, from a lack of access to devices and reliable internet, to a lack of digital skills or capability.
After almost two years of the COVID-19 crisis, The Smith Family states that digital inequity remains an overwhelming challenge, as does the lack of motivation to continue learning after being physically away from the school environment for so long.
Chief executive of The Smith Family, Doug Taylor, said while in many instances devices and internet access was arranged for students who needed them, a skills gap meant that children in disadvantaged households continued to struggle to make the most of this technology.
"Low levels of digital literacy are a huge issue for some of the families we support," he said.
"We're also really worried about the extent to which COVID-19 and the extended lockdowns have exacerbated extremely challenging and stressful circumstances for students and their families living in disadvantage, which existed even before the pandemic.
"Lockdowns have led some students to become disengaged with their education, with parents and caregivers anxious and struggling to keep their children motivated.
"This is a particular issue in states and territories where lockdowns have been prolonged."
He said increased financial stress, poor mental health, and escalating pressures on parents and caregivers, were also noted as concerning factors.
In a separate study, hospital data revealed more children are accessing mental health services, largely due to social isolation and reduced access to community services.
In a joint study between UNSW Sydney and the Sydney Children's Hospital Network, researchers compared the observed and predicted numbers of children's admission to inpatient services and hospital emergency departments between January 2020 and February 2021.
Using data collected from hospital records in the years 2016 to 2019, the researchers were then able to observe how the use of various health services offered by hospitals changed during the pandemic.
Figures were up by 30 to 55 per cent, data showed. Majority seeking help were female, aged 12-17, from socio-economically advantaged backgrounds.
The Smith Family survey ties in with the national charity's Christmas appeal, which aims to help students and their families who have done it tough.
The organisation aims to raise $4.9 million nationally through its annual appeal, to provide more than 11,600 children with access to essential learning and mentoring programs to help them stay engaged at school.
Australians can help through donations. People can buy an Internet Access Pack, Catch Up Pack and/or a Closing the Gap pack to ensure children are equipped to excel in 2022.
They can sponsoring a child through The Smith Family's Learning for Life program, which provides students with long-term, support for their education.
