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Non-Profit
Organisation
Giddy Goanna is a unique program, operated by a non-profit organisation
dedicated to improving the health, safety and literacy of children and
families throughout Australia and the world. Giddy Goanna has Community
Service Announcements playing on 92% of television networks in Australia.
Renowned
Educational and Entertainment Program
Giddy Goanna is viewed by children as a very popular entertainment program,
in the same field as Pokemon, Bob the Builder, Bananas in Pyjamas... This
has been the key to the success of Giddy Goanna. Children demand Giddy
Goanna as entertainment and then Giddy Goanna educates them about health
and safety.
Parents find Giddy to be an excellent tool and role model to improve the
behaviour of children. Giddy Goanna has also proven to be one of the most
successful programs in Australia at actually changing the health and safety
behaviours of adults. In addition to child safety issues, Giddy also covers
adult health and safety issues, such as holding a young child's hand when
crossing the road, protective gear when spraying chemicals etc. We have
found that children are becoming the reinforcers of health and safety
for adults and other children after reading Giddy's books.
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Wide-ranging
Appeal
Giddy Goanna has an amazingly wide appeal range, with children aged 1-10
years, from all cultural backgrounds and all geographical locations adoring
Giddy and Giddy's books. Giddy is also very popular with parents and grandparents,
as Giddy provides hours of entertainment for children, whilst also being
very educational. Giddy's resources are used at home and schools.
New
Book Each Year
Giddy Goanna's books are the foundation component of the program. Each
year in October, Giddy releases a new book on a different health/safety
topic. To date, Giddy has covered home safety, road safety and three books
on farm safety. Giddy actually commenced as a farm safety program, but
due to the success and effectiveness of the program, Giddy's books have
expanded to cover topics that are applicable for every child in Australia
and many other countries. In the next few years, Giddy will release books
on house-yard safety, water safety, nutrition, travel, fire safety and
recreational safety.
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Accessibility
Accessibility by all children regardless of geographical location, socio-economic
or cultural background, is a key priority of Giddy Goanna. Giddy's books
are sold for a low price, rather than given away, as this gives the books
more perceived value and people are more likely to keep them and read them
many times. At present, Giddy’s books are only available directly from
Giddy Goanna, either from www.giddygoanna.org or phone Australia (07) 4639
3888 or see the list of places stocking Giddy’s books in the Shop section
of this web site. Normally Giddy’s latest book is also available in
all newsagencies in Australia, but due to lack of funds, Giddy was unable
to print a new book for December 2002. Sponsorship is required to subsidise
the cost of the books and continue the program. |
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Giddy
Club
Due to lack of funds, the very popular Giddy Goanna Club (which had over
15,000 members) had to be put on hold in 2002. We are endeavouring to
provide a Gidd-E-Club using email newsletters. This will be developed
when funding is secured. Giddy’s Club is a vital component of the
program, as it provides new health/safety messages, refreshes children’s
memories of Giddy's previous messages and motivates them to get out their
Giddy Goanna books. Being such an exciting event, everyone in the family
is shown the mail received from Giddy with enthusiasm.
Literacy
& Numeracy Tool
Giddy's
books have also been praised as excellent literacy tools, and plans are
underway to have Giddy's books used as literacy resources in schools throughout
Australia. To further integrate Giddy Goanna, blackline masters are being
developed for teachers to use in the classroom as well. Teachers have
praised Giddy's books as they are interactive, use everyday language and
are even very appealing to those children who generally don't like books.
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Web
Page
Giddy
Goanna’s Web Page is bright and attractive. As more funding is secured,
lots of interactive games, a teachers section, video clips and heaps more
will be added.
Future
Once funding is obtained, Giddy will release a CD of songs, Video, TV
Show and go on tour with a Live Show. This will be in addition to a new
book each year.
External
Evaluation
Giddy Goanna has been externally evaluated by Universities, and has been
found to improve the health and safety knowledge, attitudes and behaviours
of children and adults. Doctors have already reported noticeable reductions
in the number of children with injuries at emergency departments in areas
where Giddy's books are widely used. Giddy Goanna is one of the most effective
health and safety programs in the world.
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Administration
Giddy Goanna is an independent organisation, that has working relationships
with community organisations, companies and government departments throughout
Australia. In fact, over 320 experts and organisations are involved in
the development of each Giddy book. At Giddy Goanna, we keep administration
costs to an amazing minimum. We do not have flash offices or employ heaps
of staff. In fact, our office space is donated and we work mainly with
volunteer staff and only employ two part-time staff, who only get paid
when it can be afforded. There are times when our staff have not been
paid for 18 months. Our priority is ensuring high quality resources and
programs are produced and delivered for children.
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Sponsorship
and Donations
Giddy Goanna is working towards achieving self-sustainability through
the sale of large quantities of low-priced books. However, Giddy is currently
in urgent need of funding from sponsorships, grants & donations to
continue to provide this very effective program.
For
more Information, contact Giddy Goanna Ltd (07) 4639 3888 or giddy@giddygoanna.org
*Please
print this Summary of Giddy Goanna to give to other people.
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