Local enterprises have gained access to a vital business resilience program to help in times of disaster and emergency.
The Business Disaster Preparedness Program provides businesses with a quick reference guide to use in their next emergency, be it flood, fire, business continuity, cyber-attack or extended power loss.
The program is free to eligible businesses is in the Bundaberg, Fraser Coast, Gympie, and South Burnett regions and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Government under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.
The program forms part of the state and federal governments’ response to the devastating flooding across parts of southern and western Queensland in late 2021, extending through to May 2022.
Maryborough and Gympie suffered major inundation resulting in one of the biggest recovery operations in Queensland’s history.
Deloitte found that the economic impact on Queensland small businesses was significant with more than 4,500 affected and total damage of approximately $324 million.
The program will be delivered by Regional Business HQ who have Gympie and Bundaberg-based Business Advisors available to meet one-on-one with businesses to identify key threats and formulate a simple three-page Emergency Response Plan.
Regional Business HQ General Manager Brooke Fossey said that the Business Disaster Preparedness Program is expected to have a significant take up.
“An Emergency Response Plan is something all businesses need but it’s often something that gets put on the backburner when we get busy,” she said.
“This program makes it easy and quick to get it done so it’s there, ready to action, if it’s needed.”
To be eligible for the Business Disaster Preparedness Program, businesses must have an active ABN located in one of the nominated regions.
Eligible businesses can register for an Emergency Response Plan session at https://www.businesshq.org.au/beprepared/
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