Baw Baw Shire Council’s Emergency Management Team has received funding from the Victorian Government to provide disaster resilience workshops to primary school children in Baw Baw.
Disaster resilience is the ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from the impact of emergencies. Practical skills that contribute to disaster resilience can be learned and practised.
Children are positive change agents within their families and communities, and can play an important role in creating a culture of preparedness and resilience in their families, and in the community as a whole (Australia Red Cross 2025).
The Senior Community Resilience Officer is working with principals and teachers to deliver the Red Cross ‘Get Ready’ workshops to Prep – Grade 2’s, and ‘Pillowcase Project’ workshops for children in the Grade 3 – 5 cohort.
In these sessions children will learn to:
- Identify local risks (bushfires, floods, storms).
- Learn how to calm themselves using simple techniques.
- Prepare basic emergency kits using their pillowcase.
- Develop a family emergency plan and know where to go for help.