Foster families focus on cyclone safety at storytime

Cairns Regional Council has partnered with The Pyjama Foundation to increase cyclone awareness among local foster families ahead of the upcoming wet season.

Council has donated activity story books about staying safe in cyclones and heavy rain to local Pyjama Angel volunteers.

Families will learn about safety in extreme weather events through the eyes of a small bird and his animal friends.

Deputy Mayor Terry James, Chair of the Local Disaster Management Group, said Council gifted the books titled "Birdie and the Cyclone" and “Birdie and the Flood” to provide new reading material and raise awareness about cyclone and flood preparation.

“We live in the wet tropics, so we want everyone in our community to be confident and aware of how to stay safe in cyclones and flood events,” he said.

“Educating children early is the best way to build confidence and resilience, and through this type of learning with older children or adults telling the story, the whole family benefits from the information.”

The series of stories related to natural disasters were developed by infant mental health specialists and are targeted at children aged under 6 years and can be told using hand puppets.

Cr James said Council was thrilled to support the Pyjama Foundation and their incredible work while raising awareness of the upcoming wet season.

“There is a network of around 50 Pyjama Angels active in the Cairns area. They provide children in foster care with positive interactions and learning-based mentoring through reading, playing games, or doing puzzles,” he said.

Through the one-hour weekly visits, the volunteers also provide critical respite for the foster carers and their families, allowing them to focus on other needs in the household.

“If you have a joy of reading and of bringing positivity into the lives of children in need, then we encourage you to consider joining or volunteering with The Pyjama Foundation,” Cr James said.

“We also encourage all families with young children to access the online version of the Birdie books through the link on the Cairns Disaster Dashboard.”

The Cairns Disaster Dashboard is your go-to place for information and advice during a natural disaster. You can check the dashboard for road conditions, power outages, weather warnings, flood cameras and other emergency information. Go to http://disaster.cairns.qld.gov.au/