Over the last two terms, Makers Empire, along with partners, Bushfire Kids Connect, and Growing With Gratitude, has been running a pilot program called Naturally Brave. Bushfire Kids Connect is a community group that helps students and their families affected by bushfires and Growing With Gratitude specialises in delivering mental wellbeing programs to schools.

Makers Empire and Bushfire Kids Connect program have previously partnered for two years on the Bushfire Brave program, which helps students learn about bushfire management, what to expect in a bushfire and how to help families affected by bushfires. This program has been delivered to 16 schools in the Adelaide Hills and SA’s southeast regions. 

Building on the success of Bushfire Brave, the Naturally Brave program for grade 3-6 students aimed to: 

• Help students understanding their highest potential disaster risk in their local community context and creating a ‘disaster reduction risk action plan’ responsive to their location. 
• Help students to be well-informed and understand why natural disasters happen, how they are controlled, their impact on the environment, and approaches to disaster management that promote sustainability. Indigenous land management will help us understand the importance of the why, where and how of natural disasters.
• Support students’ emotional wellbeing by teaching skills including ownership and a focus on service to others (volunteering), self-awareness, gratitude, empathy and kindness, as well as coping strategies in an evacuation.
• Empower students as problem solvers and creative designers who can make a difference in their families’ lives. Students will use the design thinking problem-solving methodology and 3D design to create solutions to help during an evacuation such as packing a bag, helping mum and dad, protecting animals etc.