The Disability Inclusive Emergency Management (DIEM) Toolkit was created in response to the increased risk that people with disability face in emergencies. The Toolkit brings together research, best practice, and guidelines. It will standardise inclusive emergency planning across Australia.

It’s been co-designed with people with disability and their support networks. It supports government, emergency planners and disability and community organisations. It helps them self-assess their levels of maturity for disability inclusion in emergency planning. And assists them in building their capability, ensuring that no one is left behind. 

What’s the benefit of the DIEM Toolkit? 

The Toolkit supports organisations to create safer, more inclusive systems for emergency response, empowering all individuals to have access to the resources and protections they need. 

The Toolkit will help the implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy. It will cater to the needs of people with disability, in disaster and risk management plans. It will also aid public emergency responses to protect their mental and physical health and wellbeing. 

What’s in the Toolkit? 

 There are 4 documents which create the Toolkit, these are: 

1. Overview 

This provides essential background information outlining the different parts of the Toolkit.  

2. Principles and Practical Action Guide 

This supports emergency planners to translate 7 principles for disability inclusive emergency management into practical actions for a nationally consistent approach. These 7 principles are:

1. Autonomy and Safety 
2. Person-centred and strengths-based 
3. Non-discriminatory and Collaborative 
4. Diversity, Representation and Inclusion 
5. Accessibility and Quality 
6. Learning and Capacity development 
7. Data and Evidence

3. Organisational Emergency Preparedness Profile 

This supports community and disability organisations to self-assess and document their current level of:  

• emergency preparedness 
• capabilities, and  
• potential to contribute to disability inclusive emergency management.  

It prompts organisations to identify areas of strength and plan future actions to strengthen their emergency preparedness. 

4. Resource Map

This shares good practice resources for disability inclusive emergency management. It can be used to promote cross-sector learning and to increase organisational maturity in disability inclusive emergency planning.

What’s next for the DIEM Toolkit? 

A series of stakeholder workshops with states and territories will commence in 2025. They aim to increase the awareness and uptake of the Toolkit along with more inclusive best practices. E-learning modules will also become available early next year. 

For more information on the DIEM Toolkit please visit the NEMA website.