Social Futures’ new puppet Jack and handler Lisa Wilson helping children work through trauma after horror 2022 floods

Children trying to make sense of the horror 2022 floods have a new friend in Jack the puppet, who’s visiting preschools in the Northern Rivers. Here’s how Jack is capturing hearts.

Northern Rivers children struggling with trauma after the 2022 flood disasters have been given a helping hand by a puppet named Jack.

Jack travels the Northern Rivers with Lisa Wilson, a qualified and registered play and creative art therapist, as part of the Strong Minds in the Early Years program.

Strong Minds has been working with young children impacted by the floods and dealing with the loss of homes, schools, toys and other belongings.

Lisa Wilson, a qualified and registered play and creative art therapist, and Jack the puppet are part of the Strong Minds in the Early Years program.

Parents have praised the program and believe Jack has been instrumental in helping kids express their feelings to help overcome trauma following the record natural disasters.

Kiera Reddick said her daughter Olive has suffered from anxiety after the floods.

“We were on our way to work one day and one of the causeways was running over and she became quite upset and distressed,” Ms Reddick said.

“She’d get so anxious to the point where if there was any weather event while we were out we’d have to come home because she wouldn’t settle.”

Olive with mum Kiera, Maya with mum Sophia, Aya with mum Asia, Jack the puppet and Lisa Wilson at Lilly Pilly Community Preschool.

Ms Reddick praised the program and said asking her daughter “what would Jack do?” in stressful situations helped calm her.

On one occasion, Olive “took some deep breaths” and “referenced the story Lisa had been using in the program that teaches kids coping strategies”.

“That really sunk in for her and helped her to calm down,” Ms Reddick said.

Ms Reddick said she used strategies from the program in adverse weather to help calm her daughter.

Olive talks to Jack about how she feels when it rains.

Another mum, Asia Haines, said the program helped her daughter Aya process her emotions.

“She talks about Jack lots and he has helped her come to terms with what happened,” she said.

Jack’s handler Ms Wilson said using the puppet was a gentle way of working with children.

Together, they read the Birdie Story Books on Natural Disasters, about a bird and frog whose homes were hit by a big storm.

“We read the book then Jack talks about his experience and the children will share theirs if they want to,” Ms Wilson said.

“Jack has been through everything you can imagine in terms of his life experiences. Jack went through the floods, and he talks about feeling mixed up.”

During a visit, Lilly Pilly Little School Brunswick Heads director Nikki Farrell said: “He (Jack) broke down that barrier of talking with an adult and it was a safe way for the children to express themselves.”

“The kids come running from the park so they can say ‘hi’ to Jack,” she said.

“He is this fun, cheeky puppet that is so engaging.”

Aya, Olive, Jack, Lisa and Maya during a special visit by Jack and his handler Lisa Wilson at Lilly Pilly Community Preschool for the Strong Minds in the Early Years program. Jack is helping kids impacted by the 2022 floods.

Ms Wilson and Jack have visited about 30 preschools and worked with more than 200 small children – and are fully booked at the moment.

The Social Futures initiative is funded for a year through the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.