As parents, small business owners and health professionals, the COVID-19 pandemic is something Dr Shabbir Kermali and his wife and Rehana Kermali deal with every day.
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And at home their children Leena, Inaaya, Jannah and Kasim don't just talk to mum and dad about what is happening with the coronavirus they are actively finding innovative ways to help the community through lockdown.
Dr Kermali is a pharmacist and dentist who met his wife when they were both studying to become pharmacists. Together they own and run King Street Dental & Medical in Warrawong and Shellharbour Village Pharmacy.
And their children have been a great inspiration to them both during the pandemic. Not only have they asked many questions about the virus they have taught their parent's a thing or two about how to use social media.
After their initial questions about what coronavirus is and why they couldn't visit their grandparents overseas Leena, Inaaya, Jannah and Kasim decided they wanted to do everything they could to help the community.
They started in March 2020 by handing out 500 packs of hand sanitiser and masks. Since then have continually come up with innovative ways to reach out and support people through this difficult time.
For the vaccination clinic at King Street Dental & Medical they came up with the idea of a red carpet with a backdrop people can take pictures in front of to share on social media and show how proud they are to be vaccinated
The Kermali children also launched a Tik Tok account showing the vaccination process and created some fun videos to help cheer people up.
Inaaya, 13, created educational books for children with activities and drawings to teach them about healthy teeth, healthy eating and hand hygiene.
With the help of her siblings she delivered more than 2000 complimentary books to schools and preschools across the Illawarra last October and is now working on a second version of the books that will focus on COVID-19 specific topics for children with topics such as 'why we wear masks' and 'how to stop the spread of germs'
Inaaya wants to teach children how to do things like sneezing and coughing into an elbow. She also wants to emphasise the importance of healthy eating and getting enough sleep. And finding news ways to say hello with minimal contact.
"Inaaya is currently working on the drawings and content for this activity book which we are aiming to be ready when children return to school this year," Mrs Kermali said.
Inaaya is also working on creating a series of children's books about health related issues.
"We also wish to create new activity books every year. And next year we plan to engage children in the Illawarra community to submit their ideas and drawings to be included in future books."
Dr Kermali and his youngest daughter Leena, 6, have created educational YouTube videos on hand hygiene to show children the correct way to wash their hands to prevent the spread of germs. It includes a handwashing song that all four children helped create.
Dr Kermali has also been doing interactive educational talks to schools and preschools via Zoom to educate children on important health and dental topics
And the whole family has created King Street Kids as an online resource for educators, parents and children with downloadable activity sheets and educational YouTube videos.
"As a family we wanted to do everything we could to support the people around us and we have been fortunate through our professions, our small businesses and our children's creative minds to provide resources to help," Mrs Kermali said.
She and her husband are also accredited immunisers who administer vaccines at both our medical practice in Warrawong and pharmacy in Shellharbour Village.
And they do it all day Saturdays to help as many people as they can to get vaccinated.
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