Emergency preparedness resources

Emerging natural disasters, infectious diseases and other emergencies can occur with little warning, making preparedness essential for primary care providers. By planning ahead, services can reduce risk, strengthen resilience and ensure they are ready to respond effectively to disruptions while maintaining continuity of care for their communities.

Primary care preparedness fact sheets

These resources provide practical guidance on a range of emergency and public health topics, including natural disasters and disease outbreaks. They highlight key considerations for preparedness and response planning, including service continuity, workforce management, communication strategies and support for vulnerable populations.

Emergency response and business continuity plan

Our ready-to-use template provides a practical framework for developing emergency response and business continuity plans. Designed for primary care settings, these resources support preparedness, guide response actions, maintain essential services during disruptions and strengthen organisational resilience.

Scenario exercises

Emergency scenario exercises provide an opportunity to test and strengthen preparedness, response, and recovery arrangements in a safe and controlled environment. These practical exercises help teams clarify roles and responsibilities, identify areas for improvement, enhance coordination and build confidence in responding to real-world emergencies.

Immunisation preparedness

Immunisation is a key component of emergency preparedness, helping protect individuals, communities and essential workers from vaccine-preventable diseases before, during and after emergencies. Maintaining high immunisation coverage supports community resilience, reduces the risk of outbreaks and helps ensure continuity of healthcare services during disruptive events.

Communicable disease preparedness

Communicable disease preparedness enables organisations to effectively prevent, identify and respond to infectious disease threats. Through planning, surveillance and response measures, organisations can protect staff and patients, reduce transmission risks, and maintain essential services during outbreaks and public health emergencies.

Infection prevention and control

Infection prevention and control (IPC) is a critical component of emergency preparedness, helping to minimise the spread of infectious diseases and protect staff, patients and communities. Effective IPC practices support safe service delivery, strengthen organisational resilience, and enable a coordinated response during outbreaks and other public health events.

Digital health toolkits

Digital health solutions play an important role in emergency preparedness and business continuity. They help healthcare providers maintain communication with patients, staff and stakeholders, while supporting continuity of care through virtual consultations, My Health Record, eScripts, and other digital health technologies during emergencies and service disruptions.

Last Update: September 21st, 2026

Murray PHN acknowledges its catchment crosses over many unceded First Nations Countries, following the Dhelkunya Yaluk (Healing River).

We pay our respects and give thanks to the Ancestors, Elders and Young people for their nurturing, protection and caregiving of these sacred lands and waterways, acknowledging their continuing cultural, spiritual and educational practices.

We are grateful for the sharing of Country and the renewal that Country gives us. We acknowledge and express our sorrow that this sharing has come at a personal, spiritual and cultural cost to the wellbeing of First Nations peoples. We commit to addressing the injustices of colonisation across our catchment, and to listening to the wisdom of First Nations communities who hold the knowledge to enable healing. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.