Australian Red Cross, Save the Children’s 54 reasons and the QBE Foundation have launched Kids Ready, Community Ready, a partnership designed to help children and young people prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
The partnership will be formally launched Tuesday at St Ita’s Catholic Primary School in Dutton Park, with leaders from all three organisations, educators and students attending. It builds on the existing Community Ready partnership between the three groups.
The organisations said support for children across preparedness, response and recovery often remains fragmented. The new program connects Red Cross disaster preparedness education with recovery and participation programs delivered by 54 reasons, funded through the QBE Foundation. The launch will demonstrate the Pillowcase Workshop, a Child Friendly Space and the Journey of Hope program.
Australian Red Cross emergency services lead Carolyne Doherty said children are often left out of planning. “Children experience disasters differently, yet they are too often overlooked in preparedness and recovery planning.”
54 reasons executive director Vicki Mau said the program would put children at the centre of resilience and recovery efforts. “Children and young people are among the most vulnerable to disasters, and climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of the emergencies they face.”
The launch coincides with the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction on Tuesday. The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) has set this year’s theme as “Resilience Starts at Home”, focusing on homes and households, and on the private sector’s role in reducing housing-related risk.
That theme gives brokers a household-level entry point for client conversations about mitigation and preparedness. The release said the benefits of equipping children “extend beyond the classroom and into homes, families and communities”, a point brokers can raise with families in disaster-prone areas.
QBE Foundation co-chair Julie Starley said the program aims for more coordinated support. “Building resilient communities requires sustained collaboration and support across every stage of a disaster.”
The Community Ready partnership began in 2019, according to QBE. As of 2024, QBE had contributed US$5.7 million to disaster preparedness programs since then.
The launch reflects a broader pattern. Extreme weather caused almost $3.5 billion in insured losses from 264,000 claims in 2025, according to the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA).
Suncorp has distributed more than 7,000 Stay Safe Activity Books to children and families at community events in FY25, the insurer said. The books are intended to start preparedness conversations at home. Suncorp has also moved its three-year Future Ready Resilience Program into a research phase. The program includes resilience training for Suncorp assessors and building panel representatives.
Youi is running its Community Scrum program with the National Rugby League from July to August across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. It offers mental health and resilience activities to flood- and storm-affected communities and is expected to engage more than 250 participants.
NRMA Insurance renewed a three-year partnership with the South Australian State Emergency Service in August 2025 to expand community preparedness programs.
Children’s exposure is a recurring theme. The National Emergency Management Agency told the Productivity Commission in July 2025 that children and young people will have the greatest exposure to climate change over their lifetimes.
For brokers, the programs offer practical referrals. Clients in disaster-prone regions, particularly those with young families, can be pointed to school-based and community preparedness resources. Materials such as Suncorp’s activity book, designed to get families talking about preparedness, can support renewal conversations about household readiness.
The launch event will also include an overview of Our Voice and student participation in resilience-focused activities. Children will have opportunities to contribute their perspectives, influence decisions that affect them and co-design solutions, according to the release.
