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Continuity planning for resilience and recovery

Strengthen your business in anticipation of disruptions

Businesses are faced with disruptions and setbacks caused by internal and external influences. Building resilience and planning in business for recovery ensures that the impacts to your business is mitigated.

What to find

Continuity planning

What is continuity planning?

Business continuity planning gives you the opportunity to identify potential disruptions to your business. This allows your business to introduce preventative measures and actions to mitigate a disruption before it becomes a crisis. A plan will also guide your business in its recovery following a crisis.

Disruptions could include:

  • natural disasters
  • major weather events
  • operational system failures
  • staff shortage
  • Supplier disruption
  • pandemics.

Preparing for emergencies

Emergency Management Plan

Business Queensland has provided information and templates to help businesses create an effective Emergency Management Plan. The plan includes a:

  • continuity plan to identify risks to prepare for emergencies
  • emergency action plan to inform businesses and staff of actions to take during an emergency
  • recovery plan to lead business recovery following an emergency.

Visit Business Queensland to find templates and information.

Continuity planning

Businesses can use the following approach as a guide to build a continuity plan. Here’s what to consider including:

  • Introduction:
    • Distribution list: Where and who will receive a copy?
    • Executive Summary: An overall summary of the plan
    • Objectives: What will this plan achieve
  • Risk Management Plan: Understand the disruptions to your business and how to mitigate their impact. Learn how to develop your Risk Management Plan here.
  • Business Impact Analysis: This analysis identifies direct impacts on key business activities from disruptions and the effect on the overall business. Learn how to conduct a business impact analysis here.
  • Incident Response Plan: Plan the response to your disruptions before, during and after they happen. Learn how to develop an incident response plan here.
  • Recovery Plan: Map out how you will recover from disruptions over a realistic timeframe. Learn how to develop your recovery plan here.

Manage your continuity plan

Now that you’ve developed your continuity plan, make sure that you continue to review it to ensure that it’s up-to-date and includes any new disruptions that your business may be susceptible to. Train your staff on the plan with any new inclusions along the way so your workplace is ready. More info here.

Resources and programs

Support your business during street development projects.

Sunshine Coast Council has developed a Continuity Guide to help businesses prepare for placemaking projects in their area. The Guide maps out what businesses can do before, during and after a project is completed. It highlights communication strategies, business collaboration efforts and creative customer engagement. Businesses can use the Guide as a reference point to persevere the challenges that placemaking projects can create.

Find out more here.

Sunshine Coast Disaster Hub

The Disaster Hub is a Sunshine Coast Council platform that provides businesses and residents with real-time disaster and hazard information. The platform draws information from Council and external resources to give the most accurate updates on impacts from weather events and useful resources to manage the impacts to your business. 

Visit the Disaster Hub here.

Free online training for businesses impacted by COVID-19

Businesses and employees recovering from COVID-19 impacts on operation can access this course aimed at building business back. The course covers topics that will improve skills in:

  • digital literacy
  • cyber security
  • communication technology
  • data collection and analysis
  • data security.

Find out more here.

Building resilience for floods and bushfires

The Strengthening Business service connects businesses with experts to build resilience against floods and bushfires. The service pairs you with a facilitator who will address natural disaster threats to your business and provide recommendations to help prepare your business for future events.

Find out more here. 

Protect your business from cyberattacks

Australian Cyber Security Centre provides relevant information and resources to help protect your business from cyber security threats. It’s important for businesses of all sizes to apply the appropriate protection measures to ensure that operations are not disrupted and customer details are secure.

On this website you’ll find:

  • small business cyber security guides
  • tools for securing your business
  • How to get business back up and running after an attack
  • products and services.

Find out more here.

Small Business Financial Counselling Services (SBFCS)

You can find free planning and support services to help better understand your businesses financial situation and overcome financial challenges. Access a team of small business specialists who’ll help you:

  • gain more clarity on options when facing financial issues
  • develop budgets and cashflow forecasts
  • negotiate with creditors
  • find dispute resolution services
  • access professional and government support.

Find out more here.

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