Industry-Focused Disaster Management Forums

Target audiences:
Aged care providers, agriculture and livestock operators, small businesses, tourism operators, caravan parks and campgrounds.

What it looks like:
Host a half-day or evening forum tailored to a specific industry, focusing on local disaster risks, continuity planning and lessons learned from past events.

Cost-saving opportunities:

• Use council-owned venues such as community halls, civic centres or council conference rooms
• Invite internal emergency management, local SES, RFS or council disaster staff as speakers
• Make sure you have a keynote speaker like your Mayor or other community leaders
• Provide light catering (tea/coffee, sandwiches) through a local supplier or council contract

Estimated cost: $2,000–$4,000
Impact: Builds sector-specific preparedness, strengthens relationships and supports continuity planning across critical local industries.

Small Business Disaster Readiness Breakfast or Evening Session

What it looks like:
Bring multiple industries together for a short, high-impact session with guest speakers and facilitated discussion on shared risks and response coordination.

Keynote speakers could include:

• Mayor or Deputy Mayor
• Local Disaster Management Group Chair
• Respected local business or industry leader
• Community recovery or emergency services representative

Cost-saving opportunities:

• Council venue and AV
• Speakers drawn from local leadership (no speaker fees)
• Simple breakfast or grazing platters

Estimated cost: $2,500–$5,000
Impact: Encourages cross-sector collaboration and shared understanding of local disaster arrangements.

Council-Hosted Agriculture Industry roundtables with a Big Map exercise

What it looks like:
Invite key local operators from one industry to a roundtable discussion on disaster risks, interdependencies and local solutions.

Cost-saving opportunities:

• Local Cattle Sale yards, Council boardroom or civic centre
• Tea/coffee and light refreshments only
• No external facilitators required

Estimated cost: up to $5,000 for the printing of the big map
Impact: Builds trust, surfaces local knowledge and informs council planning.

**Contact Get Ready Queensland to find out how to order a big map for your local government area

Industry-Specific Site Walk-Throughs or Tours

What it looks like:
Council facilitated on-site visits (e.g. caravan parks, camp sites, resorts and hotels) to discuss risk, mitigation and response considerations in real-world settings, alongside emergency services.

Cost-saving opportunities:

• No venue hire
• Council staff and local emergency services lead discussions with business owners
• Identify actual risks and provide planning considerations for park owners to implement ahead of the next severe weather event.

Estimated cost: Under $2,000 promotion for business owners to contact council to book in a site visit.
Impact: Highly practical learning in context.

Sector-Specific Workshops (Small Group Format)

What it looks like:
Run focused workshops for individual sectors (e.g. caravan parks or aged care providers) to work through evacuation planning, business continuity and communication challenges.

Cost-saving opportunities:

• Council staff facilitate using existing templates
• Use council meeting rooms or community centres
• Print simple worksheets in-house

Keynote speakers could include:

• Mayor or Deputy Mayor
• Local Disaster Management Group Chair
• Trusted Emergency Services Agencies involved in evacuation (SES, QPS, Queensland Ambulance Service) 

Estimated cost: $1,500–$3,000 per workshop
Impact: Practical, tailored planning that participants can immediately apply.

Key Cost-Saving Principles Across All Activities

• Utilise council-owned venues and AV equipment
• Leverage internal expertise and local emergency services
• Invite local leaders and industry champions as keynote speakers
• Use digital resources and QR codes to reduce printing costs
• Schedule events alongside existing meetings or industry gatherings