Young people shaping what comes next

It’s been a big few months for Surviving Disasters, with young people across the Northern Rivers building practical skills, sharing their perspectives and helping us shape where the program goes next.

We’ve now completed two terms of the Year 11 Life Ready program at Mullumbimby High School, with 40 students participating across Terms 1 and 2. Together we explored disaster preparedness, communication, Psychological First Aid, misinformation during crises and practical survival skills through hands-on activities and real-world scenarios.

Following the program, we hired 10 participants to take part in a co-design process. They reviewed our current modules and topics, told us what worked and what didn’t and helped design ideas for the future. Together, they brainstormed new pathways for young people to stay involved, including volunteering, training and potential career opportunities. The continued improvement of Surviving Disasters is so important to us, thank you to all the young people involved!

Next up, we’re heading to Wollumbin High School in September for a four-day intensive with their Student Council. The program will include all the usual Surviving Disasters fun but will also include a hands-on scenario day, co-facilitated with local resilience organisation, Murwillumbah CORE, and NSW SES, giving students the chance to put everything they’ve learned into practice during an emergency simulation. We are super excited about this collab as it gives our participants an insight into who does what in a crisis in their town and how they can get involved now, and in the future.

Plan C is fortunate to have our youth disaster resilience work funded by Multicultural NSW, so as always if you would like to see this free training in your school, town or youth group get in touch with Jen: jen@planc.org.au