Heatwave strategies for agencies and community service organisations
Heatwave strategies for agencies and community service organisations
The Department of Health has developed strategies for local government and community service organisations to reduce vulnerability before the summer until after the heatwave.
Before summer
- Assess heatwave risk within local government emergency arrangements. Engage with key stakeholders and community members to develop heatwave business continuity plans and consider concurrent risks (e.g., power outages, bushfires) during planning.
- Assess community vulnerabilities and identify established and informal networks to connect and engage with vulnerable groups.
- Develop an organisational plan to manage outside workers and clients.
- Raise awareness about the risks of heatwaves and promote actions the community can take to prepare. HealthyWA (external site) contains information on heatwaves.
Immediately prior to a heatwave
- Stay up to date with heatwave alerts on EmergencyWA and weather forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology.
- Activate plans to manage heatwave risks. Prepare to activate heat relief services (e.g. provide increased access to community air-conditioned centres and cool spaces, increase access to drinking water).
- Promote the Department of Health’s heatwave preparedness messaging through local media and community communication channels. Encourage people to check in on their relatives, friends, and neighbours, and to share information about staying safe in the heat with others.
- Ensure communication channels reach vulnerable groups, especially those who are at higher risk of direct and prolonged heat exposure (e.g. outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness).
- Update the community on changes to services or access to public areas.
During a heatwave
- Stay up to date with heatwave alerts on EmergencyWA and weather forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology.
- Promote the Department of Health’s community heatwave messaging through local media and communication channels. Encourage people to check in on their relatives, friends, and neighbours, and to share information about staying safe in the heat with others.
- Ensure communication channels reach vulnerable groups, especially those who are at higher risk of direct and prolonged heat exposure (e.g. outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness).
- Aim to increase open hours for air-conditioned centres and cool spaces to allow local residents to get respite from the heat. Update the community on changes to key services or access to public areas through local media and community centres.
- Ensure events taking place during heatwaves activate procedures to manage the heatwave conditions and reschedule non-essential events.
Following a heatwave
- Stay up to date with heatwave alerts on EmergencyWA and weather forecasts from the Bureau of Meteorology.
- Continue to provide heatwave health messaging and update the community with changes to key services or access to public areas.
- Engage with the community to understand how they coped during the heatwave.
- Consider what worked well and what could be improved for future heatwaves.
Heatwave resources for the community
We’ve created a suite resources to help local governments, businesses, and community organisations educate the public about the effects of extreme heat and prepare for heatwaves.
In addition, health and wellbeing information on heat and heatwaves can be found by visiting HealthyWA. The website has a large range of articles on those at greatest risk of harm from high temperatures such as working safely in hot conditions, heat stress in older people and food safety.
Last reviewed: 21-11-2024
Produced by
Disaster Preparedness and Management Directorate