This course provides an essential introduction to emergency management in disability services. Emergency management relates to the preventative and responsive actions providers should take to manage and mitigate risks to participants, staff and workers in the event of an emergency such as bushfires, cyclones or floods.

Continuity of services is crucial in emergencies, ensuring participants have safe and appropriate supports before, during and after the event. Poor preparation can place people with disability at disproportionate risk, particularly in closed or segregated settings where oversight and natural safeguards may be limited.

Course Purpose

The purpose of this course is to equip providers and workers with the knowledge and skills to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency situations while upholding the safety, rights and wellbeing of participants. It emphasises the importance of involving participants in personal and organisational emergency management planning, recognising their insights into barriers and solutions, and fostering a sense of agency and preparedness.