Ready Fest, family and first responders day, which is being organised by The Office of Advocacy of Children and Young People, gets underway at 5pm this evening at Crozier Field.

The event addresses childhood trauma from the February 2022 flood event and allows people to gather together in a positive way to reconnect children with all emergency services (in this area) in a fun and positive way.

This event was hugely successful in the Eurobodalla area- ' Playdates with Emergency Services' addressing childhood trauma from the Black Summer Fires of 2019/2020, and the local children now have a more positive connection with our local emergency services teams. 

Jacklyn Roque is the Community Engagement Officer for Eurobodalla. She said that through their experiences with children from the black summer fires of 2019/2020, which is backed by a 'BiBs Study' conducted by the University of Western Sydney and the team from Australian Breast Feeding Association/Protection of Infants and Young Children project.

"We see that children are still traumatised by natural disasters, and we have seen through our own experiences that children are still having reactions to seeing the Emergency Services teams, lights/ sirens and changes in weather.

"What we have achieved in the Eurobodalla area is having all Emergency services including NSW SES, RFS, NSW Ambulance, NSW Police and Youth Services, Maring Rescue, VRA, Fire and Rescue, Australian Redcross, Salvation Army- emergency services and Children services from Eurobodalla Shire Council come together in a fun and informative event.

"The children learn through play experiences, have an opportunity to explore emergency service vehicles, dance with NSW SES 'Paddy the Platypus', parents and caregivers have an opportunity to speak to emergency services teams members (in a less stressful environment).

Gates open at 4 this afternoon at Crozier Field, Magellan Street, Lismore CBD. The even runs from 5pm to 7pm.

As well as an Emergency Services Vehicle display and staff on hand to talk to families, there will be live music, inflatable water slides, an obstacle course, face painting, sausage sizzle and snow cones.

Everyone is welcome.