A study reported in Mirage News finds that one in five Australian children are living with chronic health conditions that often go unseen. Conditions such as asthma, eczema, allergies and other non-visible ailments can disrupt daily life without being fully recognised by peers, schools or even health systems.
By The Mirage
Parents say that while the symptoms may not always be obvious, their effects are wide-ranging—poor sleep, frequent illness, missed school days, and social isolation. Children have to manage symptoms daily, often without adequate support or understanding from their communities.
Educators and health workers argue for better screening, early detection and stronger school health services so that children with these invisible conditions don’t fall behind academically or socially. Awareness and destigmatisation are seen as vital for building inclusion in classrooms and peer groups.
The report calls for policy responses that go beyond treating acute symptoms—integrated support, adjusted learning environments, mental health services and community understanding. Without such measures, many children may continue to suffer the consequences of conditions no one sees or acknowledges.
