Community Engagement

Schools, businesses and community groups are encouraged to make use of the FREE educational presentations offered by NTES. You can fill out our electronic booking form and a Community Engagement team member will be in contact with you.

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Paddy

What we do

The Northern Territory Emergency Service (NTES) Community Engagement team focus on preparing communities of the NT for the impact of storms, floods, cyclones and tsunami through the development and delivery of community engagement and awareness programs, displays and publications.

For enquiries on any of our programs please contact the NTES Community Engagement Team

Northern Region: 08 8922 1340
Southern Region: 08 8951 9304
email: ntes@pfes.nt.gov.au

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Programs

Paddy Program

Paddy Platypus visits schools and community events to teach young Territorians about how to prepare for emergencies, particularly floods and cyclones. 

NTES offers schools a free educational presentation with the help of our mascot Paddy Platypus and other volunteers.

The presentation is appropriate for classroom audiences with information specifically targeted towards students from Transition to Grade 5 with links to the Australian Curriculum. The presentation offers an excellent opportunity for students to build awareness of how to prepare for emergencies. Key messaging is adapted when delivering in remote communities.

Paddy's safety messages

Paddy's key safety messages include the following:

  1. Stay inside during storms
  2. Have a home emergency kit
  3. Have a family emergency plan
  4. Never walk, ride, swim or play in floodwater or drains
  5. Check on your neighbours
  6. Take care of your pets
  7. Do not shelter under trees in a storm.

    This free program takes approximately 20 minutes, depending on kids learning levels.

    Program requirements: The Paddy Program is delivered in a classroom environment, with children sitting on the floor or at their desks. Paddy will require a room away from prying eyes so he can get changed and take a break if visiting more than one class.

    Briefings

    NTES Cyclone Briefing

    NTES offers a free cyclone briefing to businesses, government agencies, community groups and high schools to help prepare Territorians for Tropical Cyclones in the Northern Territory. The briefing is a power point presentation that focuses on how to prepare, respond and recover from Tropical Cyclones.

    This free program takes approximately 30 minutes.

    Program requirements: You will need to provide a computer and projector set up with sound to play videos.

    NTES Storm and Flood Briefing

    NTES offers a free storm and flood briefing to businesses, government agencies, community groups and high schools to help prepare Territorians for storms and floods in the Northern Territory. The briefing is a power point presentation that focuses on how to prepare, respond and recover from storms and floods.

    This free program takes approximately 30 minutes.

    Program requirements: You will need to provide a computer and projector set up with sound to play videos.

    NTES Earthquake Briefing

    NTES offers a free earthquake briefing to businesses, government agencies, community groups and high schools to help prepare Territorians for Earthquakes in the Northern Territory. The briefing is a power point presentation that focuses on how to prepare, respond and recover from Earthquakes.

    This free program takes approximately 30 minutes.

    Program requirements: You will need to provide a computer and projector set up with sound to play videos.

    NTES Tsunami Briefing

    NTES offers a free tsunami briefing to businesses, government agencies, community groups and high schools to help prepare Territorians for Tsunamis Earthquakes in the Northern Territory. The briefing is a power point presentation that focuses on how to prepare, respond and recover from a Tsunami.

    This free program takes approximately 30 minutes.

    Program requirements: You will need to provide a computer and projector set up with sound to play videos.

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    Paddy's story

    How Paddy became a volunteer

    Paddy was hatched a few years ago in one of the coastal rivers in New South Wales. By the time Paddy turned one, he was on his own and doing what platypuses do: foraging for food and digging tunnels and burrows.

    Not too long after his first birthday Paddy was caught in a flood. As his home river continued to rise, and the water ran more swiftly, he managed to fight his way into a billabong. Hungry and exhausted, he sheltered there and waited for the flood to subside.

    During this time, Paddy noticed there were boats being driven by people wearing orange overalls and serious expressions. He watched the people in orange overalls rescue other people, who like him, were stranded by the flood. He even watched them save someone who had tried to cross a nearby creek in a four wheel drive. It was then that Paddy decided he wanted to help, so once the floodwaters had gone down, he contacted the SES and asked if he could volunteer too.

    Paddy as a volunteer

    Paddy found he was a natural as an SES volunteer. He was keen and reliable. He knew lots about his own river, and about how floods can behave. Soon he found he had another talent: he was great at getting people to learn and remember the things they could do to stay safer in floods and storms. Kids loved him, and so did their parents. Paddy’s career as the SES mascot had begun.

    Not too long after this, Paddy realised that there were people in other places in Australia that also experienced dangerous weather conditions. Paddy soon found his way to South Australia and, after hearing about the flooding in Alice Springs’ Todd River, Paddy boarded The Ghan and travelled to the Northern Territory Emergency Service’s Headquarters in Darwin.

    Paddy arrives in the Northern Territory

    Hopping off in Darwin, Paddy approached NTES and asked if he could help spread the message on how to stay safe in storms and floods to the people in the Northern Territory. The Director of NTES agreed that Paddy would be the perfect volunteer for the job and gave permission for Paddy to visit schools, community events and shows.

    Today Paddy travels around the Northern Territory, helping NTES volunteers across the NT to spread the message that there are simple things everyone can do to stay safe in severe weather.