Makers Empire is delighted to announce that the Naturally Brave Project by Makers Empire, Bushfire Kids Connect, and Growing With Gratitude has won the South Australian Resilient Australia Awards in the Mental Health and Wellbeing category.Â
Now, Naturally Brave is a finalist for the 2024 National Resilient Australia Awards. Winners will be announced on 20th November 2024 at the National Awards Ceremony in Canberra.
Mandi Dimitriadis, Director of Learning at Makers Empire, said, “The Naturally Brave project is close to my heart having grown up in regional South Australia where natural disasters, particularly bushfires, are a part of life. It has been such a rewarding experience to be able to partner with Bushfire Kids Connect and Growing with Gratitude to reach so many primary school students. I love seeing these young people being empowered to make a difference in their communities and having their voices and ideas genuinely listened to.”
Ash Manuel, Founder of Growing with Gratitude, said, “we are extremely proud that the Naturally Brave Project by Growing With Gratitude, Bushfire Kids Connect Ltd and Makers Empire has won the State (South Australia) Resilient Australia award in the Mental Health and Wellbeing category. A huge thank you to South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission (SAFECOM) and Government House South Australia for hosting the awards.”
What is Naturally Brave?
Naturally Brave is a pioneering and engaging STEM program designed to promote awareness of natural disasters and encourage resilience and empathy in students. The aims of Naturally Brave are 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 is at the forefront of this project as we understand the importance of the WHY, WHERE, HOW of natural disasters in South Australia.
- Support students’ emotional wellbeing by teaching skills; including: ownership and a focus on service to others (volunteering in their community), 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.
The project started with a pilot of 10 schools in SA’s Riverland and has now expanded across South Australia, into NSW and Queensland thanks to the Australian Government National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Disaster Ready Funding (DRF) 2023/2024. We hope to expand the project to all states and territories in Australia.
Sign Up for Naturally Brave 2025 in NSW, QLD & SA
Makers Empire is running Naturally Brave in three Australian states in 2025 thanks to the Australian Government National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Disaster Ready Funding (DRF) 2023/2024. Schools selected for these programs are awarded a package valued at $8,500 including professional development for teachers, Makers Empire’s STEM tools and resources and a student showcase event. Â
Primary schools in the Port Macquarie, Griffith and Leeton regions of NSW are invited to submit an expression of interest. This program will be delivered to 20 schools in Port Macquarie, Griffith and Leeton, NSW, in terms 3-4, 2025. Expressions of interest close November 25th, 2024. Learn more.Â
Primary schools in the Townsville and Cairns regions of Queensland are invited to submit an expression of interest. This program will be delivered to 40 schools in Townsville and Cairns, in terms 3-4, 2025. Expressions of interest close December 2nd, 2024. Learn more.
Primary schools in the Eyre Peninsula and Adelaide regions of South Australia are invited to submit an expression of interest. This program will be delivered to 20 schools in the Eyre Peninsula region and Adelaide, SA, in terms 3-4, 2025. Early bird expressions of interest close November 25th, 2024.
