108 Bargara Rd
Bundaberg East, Qld, 4670
IMPACT Community Services and Child Focused Safety Services WA recently met with local students and elders to kickstart the consultation process for ‘Keeping Kids Safe in Bundaberg’, a protective behaviours book for children.
More than 80 students from Walkervale State School had their say on Bundaberg landmarks worth featuring in the story, ensuring the book’s words and illustrations resonate with youngsters across the region.
The beach, turtles and Bundaberg Brewed Drinks were among the big hits for the Year 3 and 4 students, who were eager to write and draw their ideas.
Intensive Family Support (IFS) Support Worker Jodie St Ledger, who’s part of the IMPACT team driving the initiative, said that many young people chose their own school.
“That really touched me,” Jodie said.
“They’re at school pretty much full-time, so it’s important that school is a safe place for them.”
IMPACT contacted a long list of local schools to gauge their interest in joining the consultations, and Walkervale State School Principal Ken Peacock put his hand up. He said his school is grateful to be involved.
“The opportunity for students to have first-hand involvement will stay with them well into the future,” Ken said.
“Who knows what this positive experience will spark in the future reading and writing habits of these young people.”
Author Andrea Musulin and illustrator Safy Tashkandy are producing the book in the same rhyme-based, hand-illustrated style they used in their previous publication, ‘Keeping Kids Safe in Carnarvon’.
To help the students understand the project and their role, Andrea read them her existing book alongside an interactive digital display, meaning children could follow along and immerse themselves in the magic of the illustrations.
Year 3 Teacher Kelly Bellingham, whose class was involved, said the experience was a wonderful privilege for their school community.
“We loved sharing our knowledge of Bundaberg and making them feel welcome at our school,” Kelly said.
“It was especially meaningful for the children to learn that Andrea was once a police officer who cared deeply about the safety and wellbeing of children.”
Andrea and Safy also met with six elders from the Taribelang Aboriginal Corporation, who shared stories of wisdom and courage about their time growing up on country.
They helped the author-illustrator duo to understand cultural traditions, such as turtle shells having 13 sections, and locations of historical significance, such as Paddy Island in the Burnett River.
Following the consultations, IMPACT staff took Andrea and Safy on a tour of key locations, allowing them to get a feel for the community and capture photographs.
Aimed at 3 to 9 year olds, the book is expected to be published in October to coincide with Children's Week. Following the launch, IMPACT will reunite with the Walkervale students to show them what they helped to create and give each of them their very own copy.
The resource will go a long way to equipping Bundaberg children with the knowledge and confidence to stay safe, through a story shaped by their own community.
