For the most up-to-date information, tune into your local ABC radio station. ABC Emergency has a number of resources, including emergency planning for bushfires.  

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has advice for providers and participants relating to the NDIS and bushfire and emergency support.  You can also keep up-to-date with the latest NDIA news and information.

As at 8 December 2020, advice to providers from NDIA is:

The NDIA expects all registered providers to have emergency plans in place and ready to enact if required, as part of their registration requirements.

In the event of an emergency or disaster, you should always follow the local advice for your state or territory. 

The National Bushfire Recovery Agency website has information for small business and primary producers and families and individuals, particularly about financial and mental health assistance.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) developed an information portal for small and medium businesses in response to the 2019-20 fires. Information includes finance and tax, grants, insurance, mental health support.

The Australian Government's business.gov.au holds a range of practical information on what to do in an emergency

Financial assistance and advice is also available on the National Debt Helpline, which is staffed by financial counsellors and can be contacted on 1800 007 007.  Further, rural financial counsellors work with non-agriculture related small businesses (as well as farmers, offering free and independent financial support to primary producers). The Rural Financial Counselling Service can be contacted on 1300 735 578.  

People in bushfire affected regions may be able to access Disaster Payments from Centrelink. More information is available on the Services Australia website. The ACCI bushfire portal has information about grants and other financial support available to Australian businesses.

Information about insurance is available through:

• ACCI Bushfire portal
• Bushfire insurance guide
• Understand insurance – bushfires
• Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

Resources to support inclusive disability disaster management, including bushfire emergencies can support providers to work with participants and their support circle to tailor emergency preparedness:

• Collaborating 4 Inclusion Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (including Workbook)
• The Queensland Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) Framework and Toolkit  produced by the Collaborating for Inclusion project
• Bushfire planning: how to support your clients online training modules by the CFA: This learning module is aimed at people in the community and social services sector and is intended to help you learn how to support your clients with bushfire planning. The modules are aimed at Victorian providers but will be relevant for a national audience.

There are a number of resources available to help with understanding the bushfires and their impact.  The best resources for you may be available through your local networks - here are just a few that we've found: 

• The Council for Intellectual Disability has released easy read guides on Bushfire Info NSW and heatwaves. 
• Victoria specific - CFA Easy English guide How to be Safe from Bushfire in Victoria 
• Expression Australia have video bushfire guides for the deaf community and share Auslan bushfire updates on their Facebook page.
• Community Trauma Toolkit for workers, parents and carers  
• Trauma and Grief Network for children and families
• Early Connections Alliance have developed the Bushfire Social Story for people with autism
• Australian Red Cross has developed emergency preparedness pdf templates for an emergency plan and a survival kit checklist.  You can also download the Get Prepared app on IOS or Andrioid
• National Asthma Council - Bushfires and Asthma factsheet
• The CFA have released online Bushfire Safety for workers to help any person who works in a high bushfire risk area over summer stay safe. The modules are designed for a Victorian context but will have many elements that are relevant to other jurisdictions.

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so locally to charities in your state or territory or nationally. The Disaster Assist website has a list of endorsed registered charities and advice about volunteering and reporting scams. You can also donate to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Disaster Relief and Recovery, or The Salvation Army Disaster Appeal. Please note: many relief agencies ask people not to donate material goods.