Queensland Disaster Management
Vulnerability Project
Background
The Queensland Disaster Management
Vulnerably Project (the Project) is being led by
the Department of Communities, Child Safety and
Disability Services (DCCSDS).
The project delivers on Recommendation 3: A
state wide strategy, including a common
definition, is developed for identifying and
engaging vulnerable people in emergencies. The
Recommendation is a result of key findings in the
Review of cyclone and storm tide sheltering
arrangements Report 3: 2014-15. The report can
be found here:
https://www.igem.qld.gov.au/reports-andpublications/documents/Review-of-Cyclone-andStorm-Tide-Sheltering-Arrangements.pdf
Project aim
The overall project aims to minimise the impact
of disaster and emergencies on vulnerable people
by contributing to the following objectives:
 Disaster management stakeholders are
better able to identify and engage with
people who may become vulnerable or
more vulnerable in disasters
 Disaster management arrangements
support vulnerable people more
effectively
 Vulnerable people are more resilient as a
result of improved engagement and
preparedness.
The project will consider:
 definitions and the range of factors that
contribute to, or protect against,
vulnerability
 who is, or may become, most vulnerable
in disasters, including those who may
have pre-existing vulnerabilities as well as


those who experience contributing
factors such as location and poor
community connectedness
how vulnerability and protective factors
interact to influence disaster resilience
how we identify, support and engage
vulnerable people to build resilience
before, during and after a disaster event
It will focus on evacuation and sheltering for
vulnerable people and will also consider
prevention, preparedness, response and
recovery.
The project will ensure the framework is relevant
for other hazards as well as storm tide and
cyclones scenarios
Project phases
There are two phases to the project:
Phase 1 - the development of a vulnerability
framework for use in Queensland disaster
management arrangements.
Phase 2 – an implementation plan to embed the
framework across Queensland during 2016.
Phase 1 activities
The Queensland Government wants to co design
a disaster management vulnerability framework
with Queensland stakeholders. This will help
ensure the framework contributes to improved
community outcomes and safety for those that
are more at risk. To do this the project will focus
on gathering evidence through two key activities.
They are:
1. A review of international, national and
Queensland research and evidence
2. Targeted consultation and engagement
with emergency management workers
and those who work with or on behalf of
vulnerable people and communities.
Consultation activities include a state
wide survey and providing written
submissions to the DCCSDS.
Deliverables
The key deliverable is a Phase 1 summary project
report including a vulnerability framework for
Queensland.
Contacts
If you would like to know more please contact
the project team
Disastermanagementvulnerabilityproject@comm
unities.qld.gov.au