Commissioned by NEMA, the DIEM Toolkit was developed through a collaboration between NEMA, the Department of Social Services and the University of Sydney, with guidance from a national expert advisory panel including peak bodies and lived experience advocates. It addresses the heightened risks faced by people with disability during emergencies by promoting more consistent and effective disability-inclusive disaster planning.
The toolkit offers practical strategies for governments and emergency services to meet inclusive emergency management requirements under Australia's Disability Strategy (ADS) 2021-31, emphasising partnership with people with disability and their support services.
It also supports the undertaking of recommendation 5.4 of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (Disability Royal Commission) to review national agreements, strategies and plans that affect people with disability, including those for pandemics and natural hazard disasters.
This toolkit, along with the ongoing development of disability-inclusive emergency management, will help track Australia's progress in reducing disaster risks for individuals with disability. This aligns with international commitments such as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Key features of the Toolkit include:
- Clearly defined DIEM principles and practices
- Disability inclusive maturity indicators and Practical Action Guides
- A tool for service organisations to self-asses their Organisational Emergency Preparedness
- List of disability inclusive resources
A nationwide rollout of the DIEM Toolkit is currently underway.