SOUTH EAST NSW

Resilience Blueprint

Pillars

Summary

Economic resilience is a crucial element with strong inter-relationships and inter-dependencies across multiple system environments. The function of local and regional economies underpins our social resilience. Economic resilience can unlock opportunities and provide a form of stability during change and uncertainty.

During times of recovery, efficient grant management is required, making it easier forbusinesses to navigate and seek support and ensuring appropriate use of funds.

The COVID-19 global pandemic saw widespread shifts to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances. Some enterprises were able to pivot and some even prospered whilst others did not. Enterprise risk management and continuity planning is critical to any business operation. Business will be interrupted. Having a plan can provide control over decision-making.

From a community and governance perspective, the health of local businesses is a priority, supporting our access to goods and services to meet needs and to ensure whole-of-community opportunities to thrive in the longer term. Access to employment and income are crucial during times of shock and stress.

EXAMPLE APPROACHES FROM ACROSS THE REGION

The CSIRO’s ‘Enabling Resilience Investment’ approach is being piloted in the Bega Valley and focuses on planning for an adaptive future following cumulative events over recent years across drought, bushfires, floods and pandemic. CSIRO, Value Advisory Partners and the University of Adelaide are working with a range of participants including local government, businesses, communities and NSW Government agencies to identify and assess investment opportunities in disaster risk reduction and sustainable
development for a resilient Bega Valley.

The Snowy Monaro business and recovery hub is a partnership between Business Australia and Snowy Monaro Regional Council. The Hub is supported by a co-contribution between the NSW and Australian Governments through the Bushfire Community Recovery and Resilience Fund. The hub works with small business owners on their current operating issues and business happenings, providing linkages and
solutions, understanding the grants that are available, what current and potential challenges are for the business and how to continue to build resilience into their business.

The Rural Financial Counselling Service focus on supporting a sustainable, resilient and profitable primary production sector. With skillsets in commercial farming, industry, business, banking and commodities, the
Rural Financial Counselling Service offer business support services for rural enterprises across a broad spectrum of elements from business models, capital and finance to risk management networks and exit planning.

Tools for Support

For businesses and private sector organisations:

• Business continuity toolkit prepared by Service NSW
• Five lessons to ready your business and support community resilience prepared by the Australian
Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities
• Building small business resilience prepared by the Small Business Commissioner
• Find disaster recovery services and support provided by the National Recovery and Resilience Agency
• Service NSW for Business provided by the NSW Government
• What to do immediately after a disaster available from CPA Australia
• Guidance for business: To help reduce climate and disaster risk prepared by the Department of Home Affairs

For government:

• Special report: Update to the economic costs of natural disasters in Australia prepared by the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities
• Enabling Resilience Investment available from the CSIRO
• Enabling Resilience Investment tools, products and services available from the CSIRO
• A Blueprint to Grow Structured Giving prepared by Philanthropy Australia
• Resilience Valuation Initiative established by the Australian Business Roundtable for Disaster Resilience and Safer Communities
• Natural Hazards Research Australia economic analysis tools:
– Economic Analysis Screening Tool
– Value Tool for Natural Hazards

Enterprise Resilience

SYSTEM PRIORITIES

We proactively plan for business continuity, and disaster disruption is part of the plan

STRATEGIES

For businesses and private sector organisations:

• Adopt a positive outlook on future market share and enact measures for growth
• Risks that may effect the operations, finances or objectives of the business are identified and mitigation measures are put in place
• Business continuity plans are developed, and disaster disruptions form part of the plan
• Involve employees in business continuity planning to enhance mutually-understanding of needs and limitations
• Adequate insurance is secured for business assets
• Understand the risk associated with the supply chain networks upon which business relies to identify redundancy measures
• Collaborate and partner with complimentary businesses and service providers in the area
• Financial reserves and positive cash flow is built over time
• New technologies are explored
• Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset to recovery, and consider business recovery mechanisms in advance of a shock or stress occurring
• Explore recovery pathways that suit business needs such as adapt or change, pivoting, smoothing cash flow, capitalising on short-term opportunity, or downshifting

For governments:

• New technologies and industry needs are contemplated and integrated into planning frameworks and infrastructure plans, unlocking growth potential and catalysing investment
• Contribute to conditions that support dynamic business networks and regional business ecosystems with complimentary capacities
• Consider the ease with which businesses can access resilience and recovery support, including grants and make these processes a streamlined and easy to navigate as possible
• Consider the needs of diverse business representatives including First Nations businesses, and business operated by and for CALD communities and persons with disabilities

• Consider local, regional, state and national (and international) supply chain network vulnerabilities and proactively introduce redundancy measures
• Consider recovery pathways for local businesses in anticipation of events
• Ensure support is available for businesses that are indirectly impacted, recognising indirect impacts are also significant
• Ensure business and business representative diversity in economic resilience and recovery consultation processes
• Support for start-ups (less than 3 years operating) and micro-business is enabled

INDICATOR METRICS

• Economic losses from disasters
• Proportion of business operations with enterprise risk management and business continuity plans that
include disaster and climate risk
• Business and economic data during and after shocks and stresses
• Participation in industry groups and chamber of commerce and other business networks and
associations
• Participation levels in grant skills workshops
• Economic development plan implementation
• Establishment and operation of economic development committees

Resilience Resource Directory

Resilience is big space. Here is our directory with links to a number of local, state, federal, and international organisations and resources to help assist you on your journey to building resilience.

Explore

Acknowledgement of Country

We stand on Country that always was and always will be Aboriginal land. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land and waters, and we show our respect for Elders past and present. We are committed to providing places in which Aboriginal people are included socially, culturally and economically through thoughtful and collaborative approaches to our work.

Resources

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