A hot summer is likely. Make a heat plan now, with the people who support you

The Bureau of Meteorology gives parts of NSW a better than 70% chance of unusually high maximum temperatures from November to January. Late October, while the days are still mild, is a good time to make a plan.

The Zoomly team · · 4 min read

Heat is easy to plan for in October and hard to sort out at 3pm on a 42 degree day. If you live with disability, or support someone who does, an hour of planning now saves a scramble in January.

What the forecast says

The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range outlook, issued on 15 October, says maximum temperatures from November to January are "very likely to be above average" across much of Australia. Parts of NSW and Victoria have the highest chance of unusually high maximums, at more than 70%. Nights look warm too, with the chance of unusually high minimum temperatures above 80% for much of the country.

Behind that is El Niño, which the Bureau said was at near-record levels when we checked in October 2026. It also notes a strong El Niño doesn't guarantee strong effects here. Treat it as a likely hot summer, and plan anyway.

Who heat hits hardest

NSW Health lists the people most at risk in a heatwave. The list includes people with certain medical conditions, people who live alone or are socially isolated, adults over 65 and young children. Plenty of people with disability fit one or more of those.

The NSW Government suggests asking your doctor or pharmacist a couple of questions before summer: how extreme heat affects your condition, and whether any of your medicines affect you in the heat or need to stay in the fridge. If a doctor has limited how much you drink, ask how much is safe on hot days.

Make the plan with the people around you

A heat plan works best when your support worker, family and anyone else who helps you knows what's in it. The Person-Centred Emergency Preparedness (P-CEP) workbook is a free conversation guide that people with disability use to fit emergency planning around their own support needs. The NSW Government lists it, and we think it suits heat as well as fire and flood.

Things to talk through:

  • where you'll go if home gets too hot, such as a library or a friend's place with air conditioning, and how you'll get there
  • who checks in on you on very hot days
  • which supports can't be missed, like personal care, meals or help with medicines, and who covers them if your usual person can't come
  • what goes with you if you have to leave: medicines, chargers, contact numbers and a copy of your plan

Ask your provider what they do on extreme heat days too. The NDIS Commission says registered providers must have emergency and disaster plans, test them and train their workers in them. Ask how they'd tell you if a shift changes, and check the cancellation terms in your service agreement.

If you rely on power

A hot day is a bad day to lose power. If you use life support equipment at home, such as an oxygen concentrator, a ventilator, a PAP machine, home dialysis or an enteral feeding pump, tell your electricity retailer or distributor. The Energy and Water Ombudsman NSW says they must then add you to a life support register. Once you're on it, they can't arrange to disconnect you, and they have to give you four business days' notice of a planned outage. You'll need to send medical confirmation, or you can be taken off the register.

You may also be eligible for the NSW Life Support Rebate on your power bills, through Energy Saver NSW.

For everyone, the NSW Government suggests checking the fridge, fans and air conditioner before the first hot week, and keeping a torch, a battery radio, ice and a cooler box ready for an outage.

For support workers

If you work in people's homes, you'll often notice a problem first: a fan that's stopped, a fridge that isn't cold, medicines left in a hot car. The NDIS Commission reminds workers that the NDIS Code of Conduct expects you to raise safety concerns with your provider. Heat counts. Write it down and pass it on.

Know the warning signs. NSW Health lists light-headedness, tiredness, irritability, strong thirst, cramps and heavy sweating. Move the person somewhere cool and give them water. Confusion, slurred speech, a seizure, a sudden fever or passing out mean it's serious: call Triple Zero (000).

Look after yourself as well. Outdoor workers are on the NSW Health at-risk list, so take breaks in the shade and drink water.

Keep an eye on warnings

The Bureau of Meteorology runs a heatwave warning service. For bushfires, the Hazards Near Me NSW app sends alerts for the areas you choose, at three levels: Advice, Watch and Act, and Emergency Warning.

If a disaster affects your NDIS supports, call 000 first in an emergency, then the NDIS on 1800 800 110. The NDIA has said its contact centre can help get funds approved over the phone for urgent repairs or replacement of assistive technology.

If getting somewhere cooler is the hard part, the Zoomly app can book a ride, a Support Partner to come along, or both in one booking.

Where this comes from

Need a lift, a Support Partner, or both?

Zoomly books accessible transport and Support Partners across Penrith and the suburbs around it, often on the same day. Tell us what you need and a person comes back to you.

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