Blue Mountains News

The Birdie’s Tree Project resources have been supplied to Blue Mountains primary schools, early childhood centres and Blue Mountains libraries courtesy of Blue Mountains City Council.

Dr Andrea Baldwin from Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health travelled to the Blue Mountains to facilitate the training for the group which consisted of local primary school teachers, early childhood educators, and child and family workers.

The group examined the impact of disasters and emergencies on children, and how to provide age-appropriate support to help them recover from trauma.

Birdie’s Tree Project resources include storybooks, online games, animations, an activity book and videos, designed to help children understand disasters and process the impact they have on their lives.

Hand puppets Birdie and Mr Frog support children and families experiencing these disasters through their own stories of preparing, experiencing, and recovering from such events.

Across the Blue Mountains, nine primary schools and 20 Early Childhood Education and Care Services participated in the Birdie’s Tree project.

In total, 40 resource kits and 750 activity bags for children have so far been distributed across the Blue Mountains.

Mayor Mark Greenhill said Birdie’s Tree is an invaluable resource for local children.

“Disasters such as floods, fires and storms are part of our reality in a time of climate change,” Mayor Greenhill said. “It’s important we respond not only to the physical impact, but the emotional impact of these events, and support building resilience in the face of future events.

“Initiatives such as the wonderful Birdie’s Tree Project are particularly significant for our educators and caregivers who support our children and play a vital role in our proposed multi-agency and whole-of-community disaster preparedness strategy.”

Participants said they were extremely happy with the program, with one noting it reflected concerns students had verbalised about dealing with their emotions from recent bushfires and the pandemic.

The project was launched in June this year by NSW Department of Education Senior Psychologist Stephen McFadden with an invitation to local primary schools and early education and care services to participate.

In the recent workshops, Dr Baldwin showed participants how the kit can be used to help children cope with ‘big feelings’ such as fear and worry, and provide a space to understand these experiences in age-appropriate ways.

Parents, caregivers and older siblings are also encouraged to explore the resources with children in their lives.This activity helps both adults and the children understand the complex emotions associated with these events.   

Council coordinated these events as one element of all hazards emergency planning and preparedness work being undertaken by a number of organisations within the Blue Mountains.

Any schools interested in further information about the Blue Mountains Birdie’s Tree project boxes and training can contact Patricia Darvall here or Early Childhood Education and Care services can contact Julianne Abood here

Further information about Birdie’s Tree Project and free online resources go to here