The cost and availability of insurance have been in the Top 5 talking points for home and business owners since the 2022 big flood.

The Business Beyond Disasters program discusses all aspects of insurance, as well as participants learning how to prepare for disaster, trade during tough times, and gain strategies for recovering quicker when disaster strikes.

It’s free to all businesses and not-for-profits in Lismore and the Northern Rivers until December 2025.

Launched in March by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, the Building Beyond Disasters program was developed and delivered by credited social enterprise Resilient Ready, which specialises in business and community risk reduction and resilience.

Ten online learning modules help your business plan effectively for disasters, build essential business continuity capabilities and work together to overcome future challenges.

Topics covered include operating through disasters, financial viability, understanding insurance, evacuation triggers and how disasters can bring opportunities.

You can choose one of five specific programs that best align with your business, including:

• Retail, professional services and education
• Agribusiness and aqua business
• Tourism
• Health and social services
• Construction, trade and manufacturing 

Participants can share experiences in online weekly catch-ups and learn the resilience initiatives adopted by other businesspeople across the region.

Resilient Ready CEO Renae Hanvin says the “understand insurance choices” module was specially created given the challenges in the Northern Rivers.

“In fact, the whole Business Beyond Disasters program has local people just like you to help as they share their experience.”

Business Beyond Disasters is a Disaster Ready Fund project funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government.

Ms Hanvin said, “We know from examples around the world, including Australia, that businesses and not-for-profits that are prepared for disaster have a better chance of surviving disaster and thriving afterwards.”

Each module in the Building Beyond Disasters takes about five minutes, and you can do it at your convenience.

“It’s not a boring online program – it’s one that has videos to watch, worksheets to print out and talk with your team or business friends next door and online check-ins to ask your questions to experts. 

“The best bit is, it’s free – but the lessons you learn and the small actions you take now are priceless for the survival of your business.”

Go to https://resilientready.org/project/business-beyond-disasters-northern-rivers/ to register.