Channel 7 Telethon Trust donation provides first aid education for disadvantaged kids in Mid West and Pilbara

Telethon funding is providing opportunities for regional kids to learn first aid and how to respond in an emergency, with more than 10,500 remote, vulnerable, and disadvantaged children benefitting from a new program. St John WA’s free in-school program, First Aid Focus, offers age-appropriate first aid classes for Pre-Primary to Year 12 students, improving their chances of helping save a life in an emergency. It also delivered a culturally diverse workbook to Meekatharra School of the Air students. The program was funded through a Channel 7 Telethon Trust donation of $34,249 and has provided training to 3046 children in the Mid West and Pilbara who are disadvantaged by distance, 7757 children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as principals and deputy principals. According to St John WA, one child calls triple-0 for their parent or carer each month in Western Australia. St John WA social sustainability manager Angel Robins said the donation has helped bridge the education gap in remote communities and has created strong relationships with staff to continue offering the First Aid Focus program. “Thanks to Telethon, this project has helped address educational disparities,”she said. “It fosters opportunities for growth and development within remote and disadvantaged communities by laying a foundation for sustained impact, contributing to the broader goal of promoting inclusivity and equity in education.” For more information about First Aid Focus and partnerships with St John WA, visit giving.stjohnwa.com.au/partnerships