Gallagher Bassett recently expanded its Gentle Bear program into Queensland, supplying Queensland Police with Gentle Bear trauma teddies to use in their work with children who have been through a traumatic situation.

Senior Constable Jessica Foster from the Domestic and Family Violence Coordinator Unit is really excited to be part of the Gentle Bear program.

‘The smiles on a child’s face when they receive the bear is priceless! It gives them a little joy during a really tough time.’

With bears also being donated to Victoria Police, South Australia Police, the Northern Territory Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Services and NSW Police, through the Em’s Friends Trauma Teddies Program, GB’s Gentle Bears are now being provided to police agencies in every location in Australia where GB operates.

John McNamara, GB Australia’s CEO is really proud of this milestone.

‘The Gentle Bear program is a fantastic initiative and we’re honoured that so many emergency service provides have embraced the program, most recently Queensland Police.

At GB we take pride in giving back to the community, and helping children during a difficult time in their lives’.

Gentle Bear came into existence 11 years ago, and is carried in emergency vehicles and handed out to young children involved in events such as serious road traffic accidents and domestic violence.

The bear services as an emotional aid to distract a child’s attention from the immediate distressing situation by providing a recognisable and safe object for them to cuddle.

In the past 11 years, over 10,000 bears have been provided to children in need.

In the past few years, Gentle Bear has been embraced by many members of the international GB family, and is now used in 22 locations worldwide including the UK, USA and, most recently, South Africa.