For Townsville City Council (TCC), getting ready for an upcoming disaster seasons is essential. With cyclones and floods a regular part of life, North Queenslanders know how important it is to ensure the community feels safe and prepared.

Back in 2022, TCC teamed up with Queensland State Emergency Services (SES) and Get Ready Queensland to run their very first Get Ready Workshop—a chance for locals to learn practical skills about severe weather preparedness.

SES Townsville

One of the attendees, Eloise, loved the idea of the workshop but found it hard to fully engage — because she is deaf. Instead of just walking away, she had a brilliant idea: why not run a session just for the deaf and hard of hearing community?

TCC jumped at the idea and with support from the local SES, Deaf Connect and Get Ready Queensland, they put together a first-of-its-kind workshop designed specifically for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

It wasn’t just about sharing information. It was about making sure everyone felt comfortable, included, and confident in their own plan.

Here’s how they made it happen:

  • Community-first approach – Deaf Connect helped spread the word, inviting their members from across Townsville and beyond.

  • SES volunteers stepped up – 16 local SES members learned some sign language to make participants feel welcome.

  • Expert interpreters on hand – Every presenter worked alongside an AUSLAN interpreter, including the amazing Mikey Webb.

  • Practical, hands-on learning – From making an emergency plan to learning how to sandbag and divert water, participants got real-world skills to take home.

And it worked—more than 30 people attended, walking away feeling safer, more prepared, and better connected with the community. Some even took their new-found knowledge back to family and friends, spreading the Get Ready message far and wide.

In January 2024, Tropical Cyclone Kirrily provided the perfect practice for their new skills. Deaf Connect reported that workshop participants felt more prepared than those who hadn’t attended. They had plans in place and knew what to do when faced with severe weather. That’s what disaster resilience is all about.

Townsville City Council isn’t stopping there. After the success of this workshop, they’re planning more sessions for other vulnerable groups. And the idea is spreading—SES teams in North Queensland are now looking at running similar workshops in their own communities.

Townsville Get Ready Award Winning team

It’s no surprise that this initiative took home the top award in the Local Government category at the 2024 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards. And made it to the finals at the national awards!

Could your initiative be the next one to shine? 

The Resilient Australia Awards are now open for 2025, and we’re looking for the best and brightest community resilience projects across Queensland. However you're working on disaster preparedness, we want to hear your story. 

To find out more about entering, head to The Resilient Australia Awards.