The SES for Schools program supports emergency learning in your classroom. Access ready to use lessons from Preschool to Level 6 and help students build practical safety skills. 

On this page:

Overview

SES for Schools is designed for teachers, with easy-to-use, ready-made resources that support meaningful learning while reducing preparation time.

By embedding Disaster Risk Reduction Education (DRRE) into the early years and primary school learning, schools help students develop practical lifelong skills that support individual, school, and community resilience.

The program covers three core topics: 

  • Emergency Ready: What emergencies are, how to prepare, what to include in an emergency kit, and staying with a trusted adult.
  • Flood Ready: Understanding flood preparedness, how to get ready, and never entering floodwater
  • Be Storm Smart: Understanding different types of storms and how to prepare

The SES for School program aligns with the Australian Curriculum (AC), Victorian Curriculum (VC), and multi-age learning frameworks.

Content also reflects National Quality Framework (NQF) and learning frameworks:  NQF, My Time Our Place (MTOP), Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF), and Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF).

Read more:

Preschool educators lesson plans are designed to guide and implement hands-on, interactive activities after SES visits. Resources support children in building early awareness and understanding of emergencies.

Download and print the lesson plans and resources below:

1. Emergency Ready  

2. Flood Ready

3. Be Storm Smart

4. Landslide Ready

5. Earthquake Ready

SES for schools-types of emergencies poster displaying four types of emergencies, including Flood, Storm, Earthquake, and Landsilde.



Additional activities (colouring sheets)

The Level Foundation to Level 2 lesson plans and resources aim to build students' awareness and understanding of flood and storm emergencies. The key safety messages to support young children to participate in preparing themselves and their families for the flood, storm and other natural disaster emergencies. 

Australian Curriculum Learning Areas (AC)
Health and Physical Education  

Victorian Curriculum Learning Areas (VC)
English 
Humanities – Geography  
Health and Physical Education  
Science 
Technologies 

Download and print the lesson plans and resources below:

1. Emergency Ready  

2. Flood Ready

3. Be Storm Smart

4. Landslide Ready

SES for schools-After the storm hits poster displaying damaged trees, broken furniture, and a fallen trampoline scattered on the ground after a storm has passed..

 5. Earthquake Ready

Additional activities (colouring sheets)

The Level 3 to Level 4 lesson plans and resources are designed to build students’ understanding of emergency preparedness. The key safety messages help support young children to prepare for emergencies at home and at school.

Australian Curriculum Learning Areas (AC)  
Health and Physical Education 
Humanities, Art and Social Sciences 
Science 
Design and Technologies 

Victorian Curriculum Learning Areas (VC) 
English 
Humanities – Geography  
Health and Physical Education  
Science 
Technologies 

Paddy Platypus in SES uniform holds a ruler, promoting flood measurement on a height chart poster for schools.

 

Additional activities (colouring sheets)

 

Download and print the lesson plans and resources below:


1. Emergency Ready  

2. Flood Ready

3. Be Storm Smart

4. Landslide Ready

5. Earthquake Ready

The Level 5 to Level 6 lesson plans and resources are designed to develop an understanding of VICSES and the important role it plays in helping the community during emergencies. Learn about what emergencies are and how to prepare.            

Australian Curriculum Learning Areas (AC)
Health and Physical Education 
Humanities, Art and Social Sciences 
Science 
Design and Technologies 

Victorian Curriculum Learning Areas (VC)
English 
Humanities – Geography  
Health and Physical Education  
Science 
Technologies 

 

Download and print the lesson plans and resources below:

1. Emergency Ready  

2. Flood Ready

3. Be Storm Smart

4. Landslide Ready

5. Earthquake Ready

SES for schools-Storm types poster displaying four storm types, including Wind, Hail, Storm surge, and Lightning.

 

Additional activities (colouring sheets)

Birdie and Mr Frog

Children’s Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service with Queensland Centre for Perinatal and Infant Mental Health have put together a series of children’s books for natural disasters called Birdie and Mr Frog.

Two of these books focus on flood and earthquakes. These natural disasters can be very frightening and upsetting for babies and young children. Reading a story with a caring adult can help a young child work through the scary experiences and ‘big feelings’.

There’s information for parents and carers too. The authors encourage children to come and meet Birdie and Mr Frog!  

Read Birdie's tree storybooks

The Li'L Larikkins program for primary school students

Li'L Larikkins are a group of friends having big adventures and learning about natural hazards in a small outback town. In these videos, you will get to meet Amy, Trev and Jimmy as well as Tucka a crazy Irish rabbit, Maddy the Koala and Bob the dog who thinks he's a superhero.

Watch Li'L Larikkins videos

VICSES has lots of information available for students working on a school project. The following information will help you learn about what we do, our history and how to plan, prepare and stay safe during emergencies and disasters.

These links will take you to pages that will help you learn more about VICSES and assist with your project:

Learn about natural hazards in Victoria:

  • Find out how to stay safe during a flood on our flood page
  • Find out how to stay safe during a storm on our storm page
  • Find out how to stay safe when travelling on the road on our road safety page
  • Find out how to stay safe during an landslide on our landslide page
  • Find out how to stay safe during a tsunami on our tsunami page
  • Find out how to stay safe during an earthquake on our earthquake page

Glossary

Some of the words used in emergencies can be tricky. If you don’t understand a word you can use this glossary to help you.

Words used in describing emergencies and weather

If you are having trouble finding what you are looking for, try using the search function to search the entire VICSES website. You never know what interesting things you will learn!

 

Quick Links

Plan and stay safe
When to call VICSES
When to call VICSES
Link to Vic Emergency website
Incidents and warnings
test
Find your local flood guide