Bushfire preparedness for people with disability

People with disability are twice as likely to be injured or be socially isolated during a disaster. If you are, know, or care for someone living with disability, there are a few simple steps you can take now to reduce the impact of severe weather and disasters:

• understand your risk
• plan for disaster with disability
• tell carers your plan.

To find out more about these steps visit the Get Ready Queensland website.

Resources and support for people with vulnerabilities in disasters

• Community Recovery in partnership with Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN), Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA) and The University of Sydney have launched the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and Toolkit, to ensure Queensland is inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities before, during and after disaster. For more details or to download a free copy, please visit the Collaborating 4 Inclusion website.
• To help reduce the impact of disasters on people with vulnerabilities or people who may become vulnerable, Community Recovery have also developed People with vulnerabilities in disasters: A framework for an effective local response, and toolkit in collaboration with key partners, to contribute to building resilient communities.
• Learn about the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction Framework and Toolkit that aims to ensure Queensland is inclusive of the needs of people with disabilities before, during and after disaster.
• The Disaster management and recovery toolkit, developed by the Community Services Industry Alliance in partnership with the Queensland Government, provides information, resources and ideas about how CBOs can work proactively to achieve business continuity, and be ready to assist people and households at the worst times.
• The Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) has provided a toolkit developed by and for the community sector to help organisations measure and improve their resilience to disasters and emergencies. It includes a benchmarking system and 6 steps to disaster resilience.
• For further information call the Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) on 1300 363 783 or visit the QDN website.