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Disaster Legal Toolkit

Guidance to help your not-for-profit organisation navigate disaster-related legal questions and issues.

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How can our resources help?

We have published a suite of resources that contain plain language legal information, with links to other relevant websites and organisations.

Our resources will help you:

  • identify legal issues that may affect your not-for-profit in times of disasters
  • navigate the information, practices and legislation you need to know to manage these issues, and
  • take action to ensure a safe workplace, protect your employees and volunteers, and improve your organisation's climate governance and disaster risk management practices

Are these resources relevant to me?

✔ You’re involved in a not-for-profit organisation that is operating in Australia.

✔ Your organisation wants to prepare to mitigate the impact of potential disasters.

✔ Your organisation has been affected, or is located in an area affected, by disaster.

Navigating disaster-related legal challenges for not-for-profit organisations

During the disaster lifecycle, existing legal problems can worsen and new legal questions emerge. Unresolved legal problems can put your organisation's operations and future at risk.

Examples of common legal issues that can arise include:

  • work health and safety issues due to unsafe working conditions 
  • challenges complying with fair work and other employment laws 
  • the need to secure more funding
  • insurance implications
  • inability to meet contractual or other obligations 
  • inability to comply with laws that regulate governance

The not-for-profit sector’s work is vital during disasters, but associated pressures are compounding to negatively impact the mental well-being of staff, boards and volunteers. We can help.

Our resources ease the stress of running a not-for-profit in times of crisis by helping your organisation manage legal issues in the preparation, response, and recovery phases of disaster.

Why use our online resources?

🖥️ They're free and easy to access at any time on our website.

🙋They've been created by our team of passionate, experienced lawyers with specialised knowledge of the social sector.  

⚖️ As a charity and not-for-profit organisation ourselves, we understand the legal and governance issues you face. 

✔️ Our resources are written in plain and simple English to help you navigate complex legal questions. 

✍️ We've been publishing trusted, legal resources for 12+ years.