‘Pillowcase workshops’ are an initiative by the Australian Red Cross that aims to support eight to ten-year-old kids living in regions at high risk of natural disasters to understand the importance of being prepared. 

Ahead of a hot, dry summer, parts of our local area are at high risk, including the Kiama Municipality, Shellharbour, Wollongong and the Shoalhaven, amongst many others further afield. 

Australia Post has raised over $1.8 million since 2019 to help the Red Cross support 470,000 people across 133 emergency events.

Red Cross and Australia Post want to help even before people need the help. 

The workshops teach kids practical skills like what to pack for an emergency and how to prepare their minds for the thoughts and feelings that may arise before, during and after an emergency.

They aim to help families understand the importance of being prepared before, during and after an emergency and teaching children practical skills like packing an emergency kit. 

Australia Post will co-create these educational resources, including the emergency kit pillowcases, delivered to over 6,000 children a year.

Penny Harrison, Australian Red Cross Chief of Staff, said the partnership would strengthen community resilience and that empowering children to feel safe and prepared for emergencies is a vital piece of the puzzle for building a more disaster ready Australia. 

“As disasters increase across Australia, so does the impact on our communities and wellbeing. The impacts of these events on people can be significant and long-lasting, especially in children. They extend beyond the physical to their psychological and social wellbeing. 

“Australian Red Cross work to reduce the impacts of disasters on people. Evidence and research continue to show that preparing both psychologically and practically for an emergency improves people’s ability to cope with their impacts.”

Tanny Mangos, Australia Post Executive General Manager of Community, Sustainability and Stakeholder Engagement, said that Australia Post’s unique presence in regional and remote Australian communities meant it was important to contribute to and support disaster resilience. 

“Working in every community across Australia, our team members are often at the frontline of disaster. We see firsthand how a disaster can affect a community, and we want to do what we can to provide support. 

“Ahead of what is already being predicted as a hot, dry summer, our work with the Australian Red Cross on Pillowcase is especially critical. The workshops and resources will arm children in high-risk areas with practical skills in the event of extreme weather like bushfires. 

“Australia Post has supported communities via the Australian Red Cross since 2019, including during recent intense flooding in Queensland and northern NSW. We also work hard to ensure mail redirection services and pop-up post offices are available to Australians when they need them.”

Learn more about Pillowcase workshops at https://www.redcross.org.au/emergencies/pillowcase-program/