Disaster Management for Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and Sunshine Coast health professionals
Our region is prone to natural disasters, from flood, to bushfire, drought, and pandemics.
The Country to Coast Queensland Disaster Management Framework guides our preparation, response and recovery activities and how we support health professionals when disasters impact our region.
PREPARE
Health professionals need the right tools for when disasters such as floods, bushfires, drought, and pandemics occur.
Our guide for Preparing for Emergencies in General Practice helps you prepare emergency response and business continuity plans to ensure your business can stay open or recover quickly.
Country to Coast Volunteer Register
Local health professionals can register their interest to volunteer at an evacuation centre if disaster impacts our region. Your registration will allow us to contact you for support if needed and provides continuity of care for the community.
Does this mean I have to commit?
No, your registration is an expression of interest only. We will contact you to arrange support if needed.
Do I get paid?
No, this is a volunteer service to support the community in a time of need.
Can I still attend an evacuation centre if I haven’t registered?
No, we ask all health professionals to register with us first to ensure proper procedures are in place.
Can I still run my business while volunteering?
Yes, ideally people needing medical or mental health support during evacuation can continue to access telehealth services or leave the evacuation centre to attend clinics or services that are still open.
Resources for health professionals
The following resources can help you and your staff prepare for and respond to emergencies and disasters.
Tips for being better prepared:
- Develop an up-to-date emergency response plan.
- Test and update your plan annually.
- Train staff in how to use the plan.
- Have an emergency kit ready.
- Join the Country to Coast volunteer register
- Contact other primary health care providers to connect and offer support.
- Prepare communications about service disruptions or changes.
RESPOND
We Are Open
The ‘We Are Open’ program supports general practices and Aboriginal medical services to extend their opening hours so local communities can access primary health care during and after a disaster.
Tips to respond effectively
- Action your disaster plan and advise staff
- Communicate regularly with customers and staff
- Update social media and website with opening hours
- Contact us for support
We Are Open – extended hours response by general practice, Aboriginal medical services and pharmacies
What is ‘We Are Open’?
A program to support general practice, Aboriginal medical services and pharmacies extend their opening hours at short notice. The program is only activated in areas affected by disaster or emergency.
Why is it important?
Extended hours make it easier for people to access health care services, especially if health facilities have been disrupted, impacted by staff shortages, or cut off from essential services.
What’s involved?
Country to Coast Queensland makes payments of $400 per three-hour session on weeknights (5-8pm) and $600 per three-hour session on a weekend to support the cost of additional service delivery and outlays.
How do I participate?
- Submit a We Are Open Enrolment Form
- Request payment using the We are Open Payment Request Form. Please note, you can only submit a payment request after your extended opening dates.
What’s required of my business?
- Provide the times and dates you will open after hours so we can inform evacuation centres, hospital emergency departments and emergency and relief organisations.
- See new patients affected by the emergency.
- Charge patients the same bulk billing and fee structure as regular weekday fees.
- Collect data on patient numbers to provide to Country to Coast Queensland.
HealthPathways
HealthPathways offers health professionals local information to make the right decisions together with patients, at the point of care.
The pathways are designed primarily for general practice teams, but are also available to specialists, allied health professionals, and other health professionals in your region.
Wide Bay (Username: userwb Password: pwwb)
Central Queensland (Username: usercentralqld Password: pwcentralqld)
Sunshine Coast and Gympie (Username: usersc Password: pwsc)
Keep up to date with relevant alerts and warnings during a disaster
RECOVER
Health professionals play a critical role in supporting communities to recover after disasters.
Further information and support for community members is available on the community disaster page.
COVID-19
For information specific to COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Supporting our health professionals page.
Mental health support
Disasters affect everyone in the community, and mental health needs often emerge in the months following a disaster. Mental health support is available to the whole community.
