As the days grow longer and the weather warms up, many of us look forward to the vibrant energy of an Australian spring and summer. However, this time of year also brings unique challenges and potential dangers. At Inclusion Tree, your safety, well-being, and peace of mind are our highest priorities.
Being prepared isn’t about fear; it’s about empowerment. Knowing the risks and having a clear, personalised plan means you can feel confident and in control, allowing you to enjoy the season safely.
This guide will walk you through the main seasonal hazards—bushfires, heatwaves, cyclones, storms, and flooding—with a focus on practical, person-centred steps you can take to get ready.
Did you know that heatwaves have taken more lives and caused more adverse health outcomes than any other natural hazard in Australia? Unlike a bushfire or a storm, a heatwave can be a silent, creeping danger. In Queensland, we are experiencing an increase in the frequency and duration of heatwaves, including higher humidity and overnight temperatures, which means our bodies have less time to recover.
What is a Heatwave?
The Bureau of Meteorology defines a heatwave as three or more days of high maximum and minimum temperatures that are unusual for that location. It’s not just a hot day; it’s a prolonged period of heat that can be dangerous for your health.
Understand Your Risk
Heatwaves can impact anyone, but some members of our community are more vulnerable and need to take special care. This includes:
If you identify with one of these groups, or care for someone who does, the following steps are essential.
Your home should be your cool sanctuary.
Block the Sun: During the day, close windows, curtains, and blinds to keep the heat out. At night, when the temperature drops, open them up to create a cross-breeze.
Check Your Cooling: Ensure your fans and air conditioners are working correctly. If you use an air-conditioner, set it to cool (around 24°C).
Create Cool Spaces: Identify the coolest room in your house, often a south-facing room on the ground floor. Spend your time there during the hottest part of the day.
Stock Up: Have plenty of food and drinking water so you don’t have to go out in the heat. Prepare cool packs for your body and make ice cubes.
Pack an Emergency Kit for Power Outages
Heatwaves can strain the power grid, leading to blackouts. Have a kit ready that includes:
Talk to Your Doctor: Ask how extreme heat might affect your specific medical condition. Discuss how much water you should drink, particularly if you usually need to limit fluids. Some medications can affect how your body handles heat.
Store Medication Correctly: Ensure you have enough medication and know how to store it at the right temperature. A cool bag might be necessary if the power goes out.
Stay Hydrated
This is one of the most critical steps.
Know Who You Will Check On: This might be neighbours, friends, or relatives who live alone.
Know Who You Will Call for Help: Have phone numbers handy for family, friends, your support coordinator, and local services.
Identify Cool Public Spaces: Know where your local library, shopping centre, or community centre is. These are great places to cool off for a few hours.
Monitor the Conditions
Use the Bureau of Meteorology’s Heatwave knowledge centre at: https://www.bom.gov.au/resources/learn-and-explore/heatwave-knowledge-centre. Pay attention to both daytime and overnight temperatures.
For those of us living in or near bushland, the threat of bushfire is very real. The key to safety is preparation, and you can do it well before the fire danger period peaks.
Keep Your Yard Clear: A well-maintained yard is your first line of defence. Clear away dry grass, leaves, and other rubbish.
Clean Your Gutters: Leaves in gutters can catch fire from burning embers blown from a distance.
Trim and Remove: Cut back trees and overhanging branches near your house.
There is also help available. Here are some programs and services you can access:
Bushfire Preparation Assistance Programs
My Aged Care: If you are an older Australian, visit My Aged Care to find out which services you might be eligible for, including help with yard and house maintenance.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS): As a NDIS participant, you can work with your support coordinator to include bushfire preparedness in your plan. This could include funding for yard maintenance assistance or for developing an emergency plan. Resources are available to help participants and providers plan for, manage, and recover from emergencies.
New South Wales – RFS AIDER Program: This Rural Fire Service program assists older people, people living with disability, or those already receiving community support with tasks such as clearing gutters, thinning vegetation, and mowing long grass—contact: 02 8741 4955 or aider@rfs.nsw.gov.au.
Queensland – Rural Fire Service: Property owners are responsible for preparation, but if you need assistance, contact your local council for guidance.
Queensland and Victoria –: Volunteers assist older people, dealing with financial hardship, or living with disability. Services include gutter cleaning, vegetation management, and risk reduction. In Queensland, request support via their website. In Victoria, email preparedness@thebushfirefoundation.org.
Other States: Similar services exist in the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania, and Western Australia, often through state fire services or partnerships with community organisations. Contact your local fire service to ask about programs for vulnerable community members.
Every person’s plan will be different. It must be based on your capabilities, support network, and home. The most important decision is whether you will Leave Early or Stay and Defend. For most people, especially those with mobility or health concerns, leaving early is the safest option.
Talk to Your Support Network: Let your neighbours, family, and support workers know your plan.
Prepare an Emergency Kit: Have a bag ready with essential medications, important documents, a phone charger, water, and a change of clothes.
Whether you’re in WA, the Top End, or Queensland, cyclones are a formidable force of nature. They bring gale-force winds, storm surges, and intense rainfall that can destroy property and cause devastating flooding. As we saw with Severe Cyclone Alfred in March 2025, its impact can be felt over a vast area.
Trim Trees: Remove dead branches to reduce the risk of them falling on your home.
Maintain Your Roof: Secure loose tiles and clear your gutters to prevent water damage.
Secure Loose Items: Bring outdoor furniture, toys, and bins inside or secure them. These can become dangerous projectiles in high winds.
Understand the Warnings
It is crucial to understand the warnings issued by the Bureau of Meteorology and to follow the advice of your local council and emergency services.
Be Ready for the Experience: Cyclones are loud and dark. They can sound like a roaring train, and the day can turn to night. Prepare to be inside for many hours.
Stay Calm: If you have young children or pets, your calmness will help reassure them.
Turn Off Utilities: Turn off electricity, gas, and water. Unplug all appliances.
Shelter in the Strongest Part: Bring your family and support workers into the strongest part of the house, usually a small, windowless central room, such as a bathroom or hallway.
Stay Informed: Keep your battery-operated radio close by for updates.
Beware the Eye: The centre of the cyclone may bring a period of calm. Do not go outside. The most dangerous part of the storm, the eye wall, will follow shortly after.
Your safety is the number one priority. Act immediately.
Follow Directions: Go to the public shelter or stay with friends or family further inland or on higher ground.
Check on Neighbours: Make sure they have seen the evacuation order.
Prepare to Leave: Turn off utilities, lock your home, and put on strong shoes and protective clothing.
Take Your Kit: Grab your emergency survival kit, including any special items you need for your disability, medications, and comfort items for children.
Pets: If you must leave them behind, place them in a safe indoor room (e.g., a laundry or garage) with plenty of food and water. Do not tie them up.
Don’t Drive: If you are already in your car when the cyclone hits, park in a clear area, put on your handbrake, and stay inside.
Floods are one of the deadliest natural disasters in Australia. Understanding a few key facts can dramatically increase your safety.
Never Enter Floodwater: This is the golden rule. Do not walk, swim, or drive through floodwater. If you are a driver, remember: “If it’s flooded, forget it.”
Know Your Evacuation Route: Plan how you will leave and where you will go if instructed to evacuate. Identify a primary and backup route.
Prepare to Relocate: Be ready to move your valuables, important documents, and essential medical equipment to higher ground within your home, or to leave entirely if required.
Navigating the dangers of the Australian spring and summer can feel overwhelming, but you are not on this journey alone. At Inclusion Tree, we are here to support you. We can help you work through this guide, connect you with relevant services, and incorporate preparedness into your NDIS plan.
Your Key Takeaways:
By taking these proactive steps, you are taking control of your safety and well-being. We encourage you to use this guide as a starting point for conversations and planning. Please reach out to your Inclusion Tree support team if you would like to discuss how we can assist you in getting prepared for the season ahead.
Stay safe, stay informed, and let’s look out for one another.
Disclaimer: This guide contains general information and should be used as a starting point for your personal emergency plan. Always follow the official advice and directions of the Bureau of Meteorology, your state fire service, and state emergency service during a natural disaster.
NDIS Emergency and disaster management: https://r4ned.au/participants/
Bushfire safe and leave early plan: https://publications.dfes.wa.gov.au/publications/be-safe-leave-early-plan
Bushfire Safety Guide for Direct Care Givers: https://publications.dfes.wa.gov.au/publications/bushfire-safety-guide-for-direct-care-givers
Heatwave Preparation Checklist: https://www.getready.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-10/GetReadyQueensland_HeatwavePreparationChecklist.pdf
We acknowledge the connections of First Nations People of Australia to the land, sea and community on which we live and work. As custodians of this sacred land we respect and acknowledge Elders, past, present and emerging.