The volunteer will assist with the early literacy program Paint Bunbury REaD which promotes the importance of the first few years of life in a child's development and encourages the whole community to get on board to "talk, read, sing, rhyme, yarn, draw and play with children every day from birth so they are ready for reading and writing at school." A key part of Paint Bunbury REaD is the octopus mascot which attends story time sessions to connect with children and promote the importance of early literacy. The volunteer's role will be to: Wear the octopus costume at various story time events, including a regular story time at Withers Library one Wednesday morning every month as well as other intermittent community events.
At the story time the octopus dances to songs and interacts with the children. There are strict guidelines about wearing the costume such as for a maximum of 20 minutes. There will also be an assistant to guide the octopus as it can be difficult to see. The volunteer will also be responsible for ensuring the octopus costume is wiped clean after each session and packed away. The volunteer will be supported by the Paint the Town REaD Coordinator and will make contact with various people working in the early years sector in Bunbury. Paint Bunbury REaD is a popular program with lots of opportunities for connecting with people, being creative and having fun. The octopus is generally much loved by young children!