It’s important that all children are aware of the practical steps on how to identify, confidently react to and report legitimate emergencies to Triple Zero (000).
As an Early Childhood resource, the Triple Zero Kids Challenge is designed to help children learn about calling 000 in an emergency. The Triple Zero Kids Challenge uses games and fun videos (accessed through Apple AppStore or Google Play), lesson plans and worksheets to teach safety messages. Click on the Parents & Teachers Guide to access resources.
Topics Include:
Curriculum Links Pre-Primary to Year 2 (PDF)
Do your students have questions about fire or other natural hazards?
DFES provides free activities and lesson plans for Pre-Primary to Year 2 teachers and their students. All excursions, incursions, lesson plans and classroom activities are linked to the Western Australian Curriculum and Reporting Outline.
External resources supporting teachers on their return to school in the context of the national bushfire crisis can be found at the bottom of this page.
Pre-Primary to Year 2 Excursion
Excursion Overview
The Emergency Helpers in the Community and Me! excursion is available at the DFES Education and Heritage Centre and bookings are essential.
Students learn about DFES’ emergency helpers and how they can keep themselves safe in a fire, flood or storm emergency. Fun, interactive group activities help reinforce basic fire, flood and storm safety messages and the importance of triple zero (000).
Students will dress as emergency helpers in the engine room, explore a modern day fire truck and there will be a group photo opportunity so bring a camera!
The excursion runs for 90 minutes and the following sessions are available for bookings on Tuesdays and Wednesdays only:
Morning: 10:15am to 11:45am
Afternoon: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
The maximum number of students per booking is 1 class of 32 students. Due to staffing and the size of the venue we are unable to accept larger groups.
As our gallery spaces are quite small, we recommend no more than 8 adults (including teachers and teacher assistants) attend the excursion with your class.
Bushfire Patrol Overview
Bushfire Patrol includes DFES’s bushfire resources for teachers and students who live in the South West Land Division of Western Australia (from Geraldton, down to the Lower South West and across to Esperance). Bushfire Patrol aims to raise students’ awareness of bushfire risk and develops a range of skills to help them prevent and respond to bushfires.
Bushfire Patrol (2019) replaces any earlier versions of Bushfire Patrol.
Teacher Resources
Module One – How Bushfires Start
Students recognise the difference between safe and unsafe fire situations. They understand that fire should only be used by adults who have the knowledge and skills to use it.
Module Two – Matches are tools not toys
Students understand that matches and lighters are not toys to play with. They are able to describe what actions they must take if they find matches or lighters.
Module Three – Responding to fire and seeking help
Students understand a fire emergency is an unsafe fire that puts someone’s life or property in danger. They know to seek help from an adult when there is an unsafe fire and can demonstrate how to call Triple Zero in an emergency.
Module four – What bushfires like COMING SOON
Students understand how the weather can increase bushfire danger and create unsafe fire.
Module five – Ready to Leave COMING SOON
Students understand that it is always safest to leave early, before a bushfire threatens their community. Students prepare an emergency grab bag.
North West Bushfire Patrol Overview
North West Bushfire Patrol includes DFES’s bushfire resources for teachers and students who live in the North West land division of Western Australia. North West Bushfire Patrol aims to raise student awareness of bushfire risks and consequences; whilst developing a range of skills to help them prevent and respond to bushfires.
North West Bushfire Patrol was developed in partnership with the Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions.
Teacher Resources
Module One – How Bushfires Start
Students recognise the difference between safe and unsafe fire situations and understand that fire should only be used by adults who hold the knowledge and skills to use it.
Module Two – Matches are Tools not Toys
Students understand that matches and lighters are not toys to play with and are able to describe what actions they must take if they find these items.
Module Three – Responding to Fire and Seeking Help
Students understand a fire emergency is an unsafe fire that puts someone’s life or property in danger. They know to seek help from an adult when there is an unsafe fire and demonstrate how to call Triple Zero in an emergency.
Module Four – What Bushfires Like
Students understand how the weather can increase bushfire danger and create unsafe fire conditions, and that fire can be more dangerous during different seasons of the year. Students understand that the Fire Danger Rating helps to keep us safe, as it tells us the level of bushfire danger on a particular day.
Module Five – Impacts of Bushfires on Plants and Animals
Students can list positive and negative ways that a fire may impact animals and understand that an animal’s home is important for its survival.
Li’l Larikkins
The Li’l Larikkins Bushfire Safety program has been developed to help students understand the importance of bushfire preparation and safety both at school and at home.
‘Be Safe Around Water’ helps primary school students to engage with water safety by identifying risky behaviours around eleven natural and man-made hazards involving water.
High-risk scenarios include dealing with floodwater; ocean swimming and storm warnings, and fishing off rocks. Children navigate the scenarios and identify safety concerns, unlocking subsequent levels and safety information.
The Emergency Helpers in the Community and Me! excursion is not available for Kindergarten and Pre-School Groups. This is a curriculum-linked excursion and contains information, safety messages and activities that are developmentally appropriate for Pre-Primary to Year 2 school children only.
Parents are welcome to visit the DFES Education and Heritage Centre in Murray Street Perth with younger children in term time and during school holidays.
The Emergency Helpers in the Community and Me! excursion is available for home schooled pre primary to year 2 students. Parents are welcome to attend but younger siblings are not able to participate in all activities. Bookings are essential.
The DFES Education and Heritage Centre welcomes all casual visitors during school holidays.
However, we do not accept bookings from Vacation Care, Child Care Centres or any other group. If groups arrive at the Centre unannounced, they will be turned away.
The DFES Education and Heritage Centre participates in Perth City’s Playground Pass program in Term 1 and Term 2 school holidays each year.
