ACEFAC 2014 * Using Your ARTS to Get Messages Across
April Himmelreich
The Basin Brigade Community Relations Officer
VIC Country Fire Authority
Getting the attention of younger children (and their parents) at shows and events, as well as in pre-schools and the like, can be a great challenge. Being able to include understandable fire safety messages at the same time is harder still. Research shows children learn better through repetition, as well as through music.
The award-winning ‘Captain Koala and Friends Show’ is a live stage show, with a high energy interactive script and songs constructed to give fire safety messages in an easy to understand form. There are currently three shows focusing on residential fire safety (home fire hazards), bush fire safety and preparedness, and a combination of all songs (more like a concert). The scripts are flexible to suit any age, location and performance time. They are designed to target children between the ages 4 to 10 with plenty of more sophisticated messages for adults.