3g. Disaster management and preparedness in a rural/remote setting
Tracks
Stream 7
| Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| 13:15 - 14:00 |
| Room C2.5-2.6 (combined) |
Details
Rural and remote general practices play a critical role in community resilience during disasters, yet they often face unique challenges such as isolation, limited resources, workforce shortages, and challenges with essential service reliability. This session will explore practical, evidence informed strategies for disaster preparedness and response tailored specifically to rural and remote health settings.
Drawing on recent events across Australia, including bushfires, floods, storms and heatwaves, this presentation will outline a framework for developing and maintaining an effective practice-level disaster plan. Participants will gain insight into risk assessment, continuity of care planning, communication pathways, coordination with local emergency management teams, and strategies for supporting staff wellbeing before, during, and after disasters.
Case studies will be used to demonstrate how rural practices have successfully adapted to rapidly changing conditions, implemented practical mitigation strategies, and strengthened community partnerships. The session will also highlight tools and resources available to support general practices, including those from RACGP, local PHNs, and state agencies.
Drawing on recent events across Australia, including bushfires, floods, storms and heatwaves, this presentation will outline a framework for developing and maintaining an effective practice-level disaster plan. Participants will gain insight into risk assessment, continuity of care planning, communication pathways, coordination with local emergency management teams, and strategies for supporting staff wellbeing before, during, and after disasters.
Case studies will be used to demonstrate how rural practices have successfully adapted to rapidly changing conditions, implemented practical mitigation strategies, and strengthened community partnerships. The session will also highlight tools and resources available to support general practices, including those from RACGP, local PHNs, and state agencies.
Speaker
Prof Charlotte Hespe AM
Head Of Gp And Primary Care Research
UNDA
Chairperson
13:15 - 14:00
Prof Rowena Ivers
GP
Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service
Disaster preparedness and management in rural and remote practice
13:15 - 14:00
Professor Ivers is an academic GP who also trained as a public health physician. She supervises University of Wollongong medical students in rural and remote community-based placements across NSW. She works clinically in Aboriginal health and previously worked for ten years in remote NT, including in air retrievals. Her research interests include climate change and preventive health.
