Supporting local businesses in Douglas Shire FNQ to build capability and connection

Spending time in the community to really build resilience 

Resilient Ready is proud to be partnering with Douglas Shire Council to deliver a tailored, community-focused business resilience program for Far North Queensland.

Led by Fiona Jago, this place-based initiative strengthens local capability through practical conversations, targeted learning and ongoing engagement with business owners.

Designed specifically for Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree communities, the program brings together in-person discussions, bespoke online learning, and nudge-theory capability building to help local businesses prepare for disruption, adapt to change and thrive long term.

I'm loving every minute of connecting with FNQ businesses to hear of their challenges and talk about how we can help them make positive changes.

Fiona Jago
Lived Expertise Facilitator

What the bespoke Douglas Shire FNQ program includes 

1. Local business discussion sessions – November 2025

In late November 2025, Fiona will spent time on the ground across Port Douglas, Mossman and Daintree hosting discussion sessions with the business community.

These conversations introduced our library of micro-learning modules and helped uncover the real needs and priorities within each community. Participants received helpful handouts and early insights that will shape the rest of the program.

More importantly they got to connect with Fiona (and her husband Mark) to hear how they prepared, survived and thrived through the 2019/2020 Kangaroo Island bushfires.

2. Bespoke online learning bundle – December 2025 to January 2026

Based on feedback from the November sessions, we’re now developing a custom online learning bundle featuring 10 mini-modules most relevant to the Douglas Shire business community.

These bite-sized videos will enable local business owners to learn at their own pace, whenever and wherever it suits them. Access to the full bundle is available for 12 months, supporting ongoing capability building.

3. Online check-in sessions – December 2025 to May 2026

To maintain momentum and provide direct support, Fiona will host six online check-ins with business owners throughout the program. These informal sessions create space for local businesses to:

• Ask questions

• Explore challenges

• Discuss resilience actions

• Connect with peers

The sessions keep the learning alive while strengthening local ties and shared problem-solving. And of course, they’ve already met Fiona so they know who’s there to help them at the other end of the screen.

4. Follow-up community visit & further discussions – May 2026

Fiona will return to the region in early 2026 (caravan in tow!) to reconnect with local businesses and host additional discussion sessions.

During this visit, she’ll stay in the community, spend time with local operators and run two further resilience conversations in each of the towns based on insights from the online learning modules.

These sessions help businesses reflect on their progress, share experiences, and identify more actions they can take to strengthen resilience.

5. Program wrap-up & insights report – June 2026

At the conclusion of the program, Resilient Ready will provide Douglas Shire Council with a detailed wrap-up report outlining:

• Participation data

• Community insights

• Key resilience themes

• Recommendations for future action

These learnings will help inform Council planning and ongoing business engagement.

Why this program matters

Douglas Shire’s business community is the backbone of the region’s economy, identity and visitor experience.

This tailored program helps strengthen local knowledge, confidence and connectedness – so businesses are not only prepared for disruption, but positioned to thrive.

It’s practical.
It’s local.

And it’s designed to create lasting capability for the people who keep Far North Queensland moving.

We’re also excited to be strengthening local #bridgingties and #linkingties.

Working together to build resilient and ready business communities

Our best work happens with council partners who are passionate about resilience and invested in helping local businesses grow and adapt. Together, we create the conditions for business communities to thrive through change and disruption.

We commend Douglas Shire Council for recognising the importance of building disaster resilience across the local business community in Farth North Queensland and for their leadership in making this work possible.

This project is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.