Brisbane South PHN joins Gold Coast PHN for a collaborative disaster preparedness initiative
The impact of local severe weather events in recent years has been heavily felt by people with complex health needs. After broad consultation with stakeholders in South-East Queensland, Gold Coast PHN and Brisbane South PHN have identified an opportunity to further support medically vulnerable people in the Scenic Rim, Gold Coast and Logan regions.
The project aims to support community members to understand their risks, identify available local support networks and make disaster and emergency plans based on their individual strengths and circumstances, to help keep safe and connected to critical support in the event of a disaster.
Gold Coast PHN and Brisbane South PHN are proud to have launched a collaborative disaster preparedness initiative, bringing together healthcare, community and emergency management partners across the Gold Coast, Logan and Scenic Rim local government areas.
‘Disasters do not recognise geographic or organisational boundaries. That is why the PHNs are partnering to reduce duplication, align planning and deliver more consistent, person-centred support for local communities most at risk during emergencies’ said Kellie Trigger, Director, Health Intelligence Planning and Engagement at Gold Coast PHN.
Reducing preventable hospital presentations during disasters, strengthening coordination between health and community services, and improving awareness of the unique challenges faced by medically vulnerable people during disasters are key objectives of the disaster preparedness initiative.
Request a free Connected and Prepared (CaP) workshop for your patients
As part of the initiative, Gold Coast PHN are delivering Connected and Prepared (CaP) workshops to community members living in the Scenic Rim, Gold Coast and Logan regions.
The workshops will focus on building capability through structured conversations that help patients to identify practical actions they can take to prepare for emergencies. This will be particularly relevant for patients with medical, disability and functional support needs (including people who are reliant on powered medical devices, temperature-sensitive medications and essential in-home supports).
Workshops are flexible and adaptable, and can be tailored to different community settings, cultural contexts and service environments. Participants are supported to build confidence, increase self-management skills and strengthen connections with local services.
Request a free workshop for your patients by emailing [email protected].
More about the Connected and Prepared (CaP) workshops
The workshops will explore practical strategies to improve planning, coordination, and support people with a diverse range of health needs across all phases of a disaster.
The workshop covers:
an overview of disaster risks and impacts for medically vulnerable people
practical preparedness actions for carers and health provider services
opportunities to share experiences and local challenges
collaborative discussion to strengthen local coordination and support networks.
We are proud to be supporting Gold Coast PHN in empowering local communities with the knowledge, confidence and agency to be prepared for times of disaster, particularly when it comes to their individual health needs.
—Laura Casey, General Manager of System Integration and Coordination at Brisbane South PHN,
Next steps
As lead of the initiative, Gold Coast PHN, with support from Brisbane South PHN, is continuing to collaborate closely with relevant health and emergency service stakeholders to expand the reach of the program, confirm referral pathways and support shared learnings across the region.
Insights gathered through engagement and evaluation will help inform future preparedness planning and strengthen sector-wide responses to climate-related emergencies.
For more information about the disaster preparedness initiative, please email [email protected].
Further information for healthcare professionals
For practice support, visit our disaster readiness webpage.
View the Disaster Management in General Practice HealthPathway.
Use the RACGP resource to create an emergency management plan for your general practice.