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Disaster and Emergency Planning
We believe that it is important that people with disability need to be included from the beginning in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of emergency planning and response.
We believe in a human rights-based approach that acknowledges Australia’s responsibility under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (2015-2030) (UNISDR, 2015) to find ways to ensure everyone is well prepared for disasters.
We know that people with disability face additional risks, barriers and impacts in emergency planning and response. It is important that there are nationally consistent standards to ensure access and inclusion of people with disability, clear frameworks that give a roadmap for everyone to know how we can work together, and tailored resources for people with disability so they can have person-centred planning conversations to make their own individual plan for disaster or emergency based upon disability functional based supports.
Submissions and papers
Ensuring people with disability have a voice on issues that affect them is at the heart of what we do.
Our members experience a range of challenges during natural disasters or emergencies including the current COVID-19 pandemic. We know that people with disability must be part of the solution. They should be actively involved in the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of the systems that are in place.
Some of our work in ensuring disability inclusive disaster planning, preparedness, response and recovery includes:
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
The Australian Government has announced changes to how Disaster Recovery Funding works. These changes could mean Queensland loses up to $700million a year in disaster relief funding.
Queensland is Australia’s most disaster-prone state, and the proposed changes in Commonwealth State/Territory disaster funding arrangements will have impact across Queensland communities, including people with disability.
As part of our ongoing advocacy on this issue, QDN would like everyone to send the State MP letters to the following Queensland Ministers and Shadow Ministers.
Click on the following links to download the template.
- State MPs letter template:
https://qdn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Draft-letter-DIDRR-for-QDN-members-QLD-State-Parliament.docx - Federal MPs and Senators letter template:
https://qdn.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Draft-letter-DIDRR-for-QDN-members-Federal-MPs.docx
We have included their contact emails below to make this easy for you.
Government Members
- Premier – David Crisafulli – premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au
- Minister for Local Government and Water and Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery and Volunteers – Ann Leahy – lgwv@ministerial.qld.gov.au
- Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence – Amanda Camm – families.services@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Opposition Members
- Leader of the Opposition – Steven Miles – TheLeader@opposition.qld.gov.au
- Shadow Minister for Seniors and Disability Services – Leeanne Enoch – Algester@parliament.qld.gov.au
- Shadow Minister for Fire, Disaster Recovery, Emergency Services and Volunteers – Nikki Boyd – Pine.Rivers@parliament.qld.gov.au
Federal MPs and Senators
These contacts can be found by visiting the following website:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Senators_and_Members
Highlighted submission - Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
Older submissions
- QDN Submission to Queensland Parliamentary Committee July 2020 – Queensland Health Response to COVID-19
- QDN Submission to Queensland Parliamentary Committee June 2020 – Queensland Economic Response to COVID-19
- Villeneuve, M., Abson, L., Pertiwi, P., Moss, M. (2021). Applying a person-centred capability framework to inform targeted action on disability inclusive disaster risk reduction. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.
Person-centered Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) Workshops
It is Get Ready Queensland week from Thursday 8 October to Tuesday 13 October, but disasters can happen at any time.
Do you know what to do in the event of an emergency or disaster?
Are you ready?
Plan ahead and attend one of the many free and upcoming Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (PCEP) Workshops that will start you on the journey of understanding what to do when disaster strikes.
The workshops are hosted by Sunshine Coast Council and presented by Peer Leaders from Queenslanders with Disability Network’s (QDN) award winning DIDRR (Disability-Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction) Peer Leadership program.
Workshops are offered in two-part sessions both online and in-person.
Find a workshop near you by clicking the following button:
Additional resources
External links
Collaborating4inclusion Opens a new website.
Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy, Community Recovery Opens a new website.
Rent Connect Opens a new website.
“I’ve learned that there’s so much I can do, as a person with disability, to help myself prepare for emergencies. There’s so much strength within myself and within my community.”
QDN DIDRR Peer Leader Nadia
