Community Big Map exercises

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Work with your community and Council to create the next Big Map near you. 

The Big Map

The Big Map helps bring conversations about community resilience and emergency planning to Yarra Ranges communities. It can be used by community groups, agencies, and council as a unique and interactive way to engage people. We’d love to work with you to help create the next Big Map event.

What is it?

Big Map is a large-scale, aerial floor map covering the entire Yarra Ranges Shire that measures 12 m x 7 m (in 4, 7m x 3m sections).

We also have a map of the Hills region, which is 7 m x 7 m. Plans are in place to get maps of the Urban, Upper Yarra, and Valley regions. 

Designed to be walked on (with shoes removed), these interactive maps provide an engaging way for people to explore their local area and wider landscape from a unique sky view, which support conversations about emergency preparedness.

See the Big Map in action

In November 2025 we co-hosted a Belgrave community Big Map exercise in partnership with Disaster Relief Australia.

 

Interested in attending or organising the next Big Map session

To notify us of your interest in attending or organising future big maps complete our The Big Map Community Resilience Conversations Form.

Below are some example Big Map sessions. These can help you decide which session you would like to attend or help you plan your Big Map sessions. You can adapt these or create your own session to cater to the target audience and get the desired outcomes. 

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Drop-in sessions

  • Suits people with limited time who can’t attend a full Big Map session.
  • Flexible for different venues (e.g., single map sections displayed on tables).
  • Useful for gauging interest in community for promoting future Big Map events.
  • Complements existing events rather than creating a separate one, helping reach new audiences.

Speaker session

  • Guest speakers share their knowledge on emergencies, using the Big Map as an interactive tool (e.g., CFA on fire, Council on recovery, or community members with lived experience).
  • Estimated 1–3-hour session; audience can come for part or all the session.
  • Suits people who are interested to learn more about emergencies and their risks.
  • Held in a venue with space for full map (12m x 7m) or smaller maps (7m x 7m).
  • Example run sheet available.
  • Council can assist with planning, facilitation and recruiting speakers.

 

Scenario session

  • Uses a simulated emergency scenario to guide discussion about risks and planning for before, during and/or after an emergency. 
  • Estimated 1–3-hour session; attendees are encouraged (but not required) to stay for the full session.
  • Suitable for people at any stage of preparedness – from beginning their journey into emergency preparedness to having established plans or emergency groups.
  • Also suitable for community groups, community services, local businesses (full groups or representatives).
  • Requires facilitator guidance and simple prompts (scenario example provided). 

Agency scenario session

  • Another scenario approach that is designed to get relevant agencies, services, organisations and/or key community groups together, and develop mutual understand of roles in emergencies, and support planning.
  • Estimated 1-4hr session (depending on number of agencies and organisations attending)
  • Suits an audience that is keen to network with agencies and community groups, engage in group discussions on emergencies.
  • Agencies are also welcome to request the Big Map for their own training sessions and team development.

 

 

The Big Map Resources

Council has a range of resources to support you bring the next Big Map to the Yarra Ranges community, drawing on what we’ve learned from sessions held so far. The resources include run sheets for the sessions suggested above, participant materials (sticky dots, name tags), promotional guides, township maps, ect. All this can be requested to help shape a session that suits your audience and goals. Begin planning the next big map now and reach out to us anytime during your planning to begin organising the next Big Map.

Email: EmergencyManagement@yarraranges.vic.gov.au 

 

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