Games, barbeques and activities
Warringah Pittwater State Emergency Service (SES) unit will be hosting an invitation-only day for children with disability for the first time on 20 October, in Terrey Hills.
Children from Arranounbai Special School, Fisher Road School and Sir Eric Woodward School will participate in a day packed with fun activities and games.
Deputy unit commander for the unit, Jenny Parkes, says activities have been designed to build a connection between the emergency services and those in the community living with a disability and their careers.
“The aim is to build trust within the community of the SES, so in case families ever need to call us, people living with disability will not be scared by us turning up in uniform,” she explains. “It’s also to build awareness within their families of when they might need to call the SES.”
With a background as a teacher, Jenny knows how vital these types of experiences are for children, especially ones with high support needs and their families.
“Often, these children can carry a lot of trauma, (often) for visits to hospitals that have been difficult and challenging or painful for them. The fact that we are in uniform can sometimes trigger unpleasant trauma,” Jenny says. “So I want to make sure that we are (seen) in a positive role.”
Often when the SES shows up to attend to an emergency, volunteers need to assist people in finding safe access to get away from a dangerous situation, such as water coming into a house or trees blocking access to the house.
“We are trying to make sure that the people living with disability and their families and carers are not scared of us and can approach us. And also to build skills within our unit members to know how to interact with people who may have a disability.”
The activities will include getting familiar with the SES truck, radio games, a scavenger hunt on the trucks, dress-ups, a rescue teddy simulation, a free BBQ and light refreshments and the opportunity to meet ‘Paddy the platypus’ and connect with SES volunteers.