Living Here

Council proud to support Red Cross Pillowcase Project workshops

Gladstone Regional Council is supporting free upcoming workshops run by the Red Cross Pillowcase Project that are designed to help children deal with emergencies.

The Pillowcase Project is a disaster resilience education program designed to help children to prepare psychologically and practically for an emergency.

Delivered by Australian Red Cross staff and volunteers, the workshops encourage students to be active participants in their own emergency preparedness.

The program is aimed at children ages 8-10, with Council facilitating five sessions at various locations across the region – Mount Larcom, Calliope, Boyne Valley, Baffle Creek and Agnes Water.

Gladstone Region Councillor Desley O’Grady said the program has been developed with links to the Australian curriculum, with ties to civics and citizenship, health and physical education, personal and social capability and ethical understanding.

“The Pillowcase Program was originally inspired by events during Hurricane Katrina, which hit the United States in August 2005,” Councillor O’Grady said.

“While evacuating campus, students of a local university used pillowcases to carry their cherished and basic possessions.

“After hearing this, the American Red Cross developed the concept of using pillowcases as an emergency kit.”

Cr O’Grady said each one-hour workshop, to be held at libraries and other locations across the region, involves engaging discussions and interactive activities.

“By attending one of the workshops, your child or children will learn about the importance of being prepared, learn how to prepare their mind for the thoughts and feelings that may arise before, during and after an emergency, and have knowledge of what items to pack in an emergency kit,” she said.

“The coolest part is that each student is given a pillowcase to decorate and take home in order to start their very own emergency kit.

“Dealing with an emergency can be stressful at the best of times, so to know that your child is prepared both psychologically and practically for an emergency can offer peace of mind for parents.

“History has shown the Gladstone Region is not immune to natural disasters and having plans in place can be the difference between staying safe or putting yourself or loved ones in danger.

“If your child has a pre-prepared emergency kit, that’s one less thing mum or dad needs to think about should an emergency situation arise.”

Council is pleased to support the following Red Cross Pillowcase Project workshops: