Following the devastating floods across the Loddon Mallee in 2022, the Loddon Mallee Public Health Unit (LMPHU) worked with people with a disability and community partners to better understand the challenges they faced during emergencies.
Together, they identified the need for a resource that was practical, accessible and easy to use.
The result was Go Pack! – a bright green emergency preparedness bag designed by people with disability for people with disability.
Developed in partnership with Campaspe Shire, Vivid and Community Living and Respite Services (CLRS), the project was co-designed with 20 NDIS participants, whose lived experiences helped shape every aspect of the resource.
From its name and bright green colour to its visual icons and picture-based checklist, every element was designed to make emergency preparedness easier.
Project participant Josh Cheep said being involved in the co-design process had been a rewarding experience.
"For me, it's the best thing I ever did," Josh said.
Josh, who lives near the Campaspe River, experienced the 2022 floods firsthand. He said seeing the impact of the floods reinforced the importance of being prepared, and that Go Pack!'s visual design and picture-based checklist made it easy for people with disability to understand what they needed to pack.
For LMPHU Director Emma Vains, the project demonstrates the value of working alongside communities to develop practical public health solutions.
"By listening to people’s lived experience, we've created a practical and accessible resource that helps people prepare for emergencies with confidence."
First rolled out in Campaspe Shire, the project is now being distributed across the region, giving 2,000 NDIS participants access to the bag.
More than an emergency kit, Go Pack! starts conversations, builds confidence and empowers people with disability to prepare before disasters strike - demonstrating how lived experience and strong local partnerships can deliver practical solutions that make communities more resilient.