MEDIA RELEASE:
Disaster Awareness Program Delivered to Australian Primary Schools
The SES Natural Hazards Children’s Awareness and Education Program launched nationally in November 2010. The advertising program featuring 10 x 30 second safety stories ran on free to air and selected pay-tv channels until school resumed in 2011. A school resources kit was released to all state, independent and religious primary schools in Australia.
If your primary school has not received this resource, please check with your principal and contact the SES in your state or territory.
The program objectives are designed to increase children’s awareness of the potential dangers inherent in floods, storms, cyclones, tsunamis and other natural hazards. Read more about the program on this fact sheet.
Research has shown that educating children about natural hazards is a promising avenue to pursue. Careful script development has been predicated on explaining the potential threat in a way that children can relate to, dispelling common myths and leaving children with a set of actions that are within their ability to execute – such as encouraging Mum and Dad to develop an emergency plan, or tidying up the yard and securing outdoor furniture because a storm is predicted.
The Li'L Safety Club!
The program uses visual storytelling as an easy, fun approach to introduce children to the serious concept of emergency preparation.
The Li'L Safety Club engages children with safety message stories in a fun and identifiable way. They provide children knowledge to increase their awareness of personal, environmental and community safety.
The stories are told through the actions of Amy and her friends – a loveable cast of characters from the animated television series, Li'L Larikkins. Ten stories (five on each channel) have been designed specifically to connect with and entertain children while teaching them underlying safety principles.
Like adults, children must be prepared for emergencies. Introducing them to the idea of bushfire and other natural hazards is essential. The Li'L Safety Club teaches children how to take precautions that are age appropriate and children are encouraged achieve clear, manageable goals for emergency preparation. These goals might be to know the bushfire plan at school as well as at home, or to pack a box of precious things early in case they have to leave in a hurry.
Watch the stories here!
The messages these safety stories convey have been developed by SES Agencies across Australia, Ettamogah Entertainment and the Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council (AFAC) in consultation with a children's psychologist, all with the goal of conveying the best way to educate children about dangers without alarming them.
The Li'L Safety Club sparks discussion between parents and children about being prepared for emergencies. It aims to encourage the entire family to be involved in problem-solving related to natural hazards. Each child will be able to contribute to the safety preparations in a beneficial way when empowered by these messages.
The campaign protects what is most important in an emergency – our children.
© Southern Equity PL (2010) All Rights reserved
