New interactive game helps kids prepare for natural disasters

A new online game launched by Central Highlands Regional Council is helping kids learn all about preparing for natural disasters.

The interactive experience, Kan’s Lost Joey, uses local landmarks, native animals, and information specific to the region to guide children through storms, floods, fires, and pandemics.

The game is aimed at eight to 13-year olds and follows Kan, a mother kangaroo, as she encounters different disaster scenarios while looking for her lost joey.

‘Engaging our youth in disaster preparedness will prompt discussions for rural and remote families who can use the skills developed playing the game to commence plans for these types of events,’ Coordinator Disaster Management and Community Resilience Glenn Bell said.

‘While designing Kan’s Lost Joey, it was important to include the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience by clearly outlining how to assess risks and reduce exposure and vulnerability to hazards when preparing for extreme events.’

Mayor Kerry Hayes said training our youth in disaster preparedness helps improve our region’s response when these situations occur.

‘As we continue living with the COVID-19 pandemic and head into storm and bushfire season, the better prepared our community is, the more resilient we will be during and after disasters,’ Mayor Hayes said.

‘Overall, this helps to reduce stress, improving outcomes and mental wellbeing.

‘I encourage all families to spend some time these school holidays enjoying Kan’s Lost Joey and chatting about their disaster plans as we head into summer.’

After successfully implementing disaster management software Guardian IMS in 2019, Central Highlands Regional Council partnered with QIT Plus to bring Kan’s Lost Joey to life.

To get started with Kan’s Lost Joey or find out more about preparing for disasters, visit council’s Emergency Management Dashboard.