Evacuation centres and posters

​Evacuation centres may be opened to support people who require short-term temporary accommodation following a natural disaster or other incident. NSW Health supports partner agencies by providing health advice on the establishment, management, and health service needs of evacuation centres and may provide health professionals to work at the centre, if needed.

For chemical emergencies please see the Shelter in place for more information.

Resources and guidelines

  • Major Evacuation Centres: Public Health Considerations provide public health advice for health professionals across the identification, planning, set-up and management of a major evacuation centre. The guidelines recognise the importance of public health considerations in major evacuation centres however, provides advice relative to the services provided, therefore apply across the spectrum of evacuation centres.
  • Environmental and public health assessment form for evacuation centres. This checklist provides support to Environmental Health Officers or health staff in the public health assessment of pre-operational and operational centres. (Note: If using the Edge browser, you need to right click and select 'Save link as' to download the file.)
  • Evacuation Management Guideline details whole of government plans for emergency management for evacuations during an actual or forecast emergency.
  • Major Evacuation Centre Guideline provides overarching guidance on the triggers for, establishment and operations of a major evacuation centre.

Posters for evacuation centres

For culturally appropriate emergency preparedness and infectious diseases resources for Aboriginal people and communities please see AHMRC Public Health resource centre.

Further NSW Health resources

For information on emergency preparedness including planning and preparedness resources, recovery and mental health impacts, facts sheets and more see Emergency preparedness​.

For information including what to do to protect your health during and after a natural disaster please see hazard specific information available atNatural disasters and emergency incidents.



Current as at: Tuesday 15 July 2025