Preparation and a comprehensive response determines your ability to navigate and recover from a crisis or issue

Whether it be cybersecurity risks, physical incidents, customer backlash, natural disasters or litigation, we have experience helping leaders and organisations navigate challenging issues and crises.

How you prepare for and respond to an issue or crisis will play a large part in your organisation’s ability to survive and recover from negative media coverage or public perception.”

We work with clients to prepare for, manage and respond to crises and issues. We provide the expertise and strategic counsel to ensure you communicate with clarity and confidence.

Every issue for every organisation is unique. York Park Group works closely with clients to identify and understand the details of each issue, develop a plan that considers the range of potential scenarios for how an issue may evolve or progress, and develop messaging and communications materials for different audiences and channels.

Our team has provided strategic advice to executives and organisations involved in the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, the Royal Commission into Family and Domestic Violence (SA), the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (VIC), and the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants (VIC), as well as a range of Federal and State Parliamentary Committee Inquiries.

Our Services

We work with clients to identify and prepare for issues, and help manage them when they become public. York Park Group’s issues management services include:

Risk identification and preparedness
Strategic communications advice
Media management
Stakeholder communications and engagement
Development of Crisis Communications Plans
Tailored crisis scenario simulations

Crisis Services

York Park Group provides 24/7 crisis communications support, including working in-house if required.

Our Issues and Crisis Management Approach

FAQs

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What is Issues Management?

In most cases, organisations have time to prepare for an issue, and to potentially mitigate or minimise any reputational damage that may result. Managing any issue should include not just the operational response, but also a comprehensive communications plan which considers the range of scenarios that might unfold.

Some of the questions to ask when preparing an Issues Management Plan should include: What’s happened? Who do you need to tell? What can or do you need to tell them? When will you tell them? How will you tell them? How will they respond or react?

What is the difference between an issue and a crisis?

Issues can generally be prepared for and managed. An issue becomes a crisis, when the planned becomes unplanned. In a crisis, you may need to make decisions or share information without having all the facts available; things are unfolding and need to be managed in the moment.

Can all issues – or crises – be prepared for?

Broadly speaking, yes. For every organisation, there will be a range of potential risks that can generally be identified: physical incidents, cyber incidents, employee incidents, organisational incidents etc. The specific details will vary, but the nature of the incident can broadly be predicted and prepared for.

Ensuring you have an up-to-date Crisis Communications Plan is critical, which clearly sets out processes, stakeholders, messaging, and template materials.

When should we engage communications experts to manage an issue?

As soon as possible. Preparedness is key to effective issues management and minimising reputational damage.

Strategy and Reputation

Your reputation underpins your ability to navigate challenges and create opportunities

Reputation drives your ability to run and grow your business, achieve outcomes, mitigate risks, engage with stakeholders and create change. We work with clients to build, manage and protect their reputation.

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Public Affairs

Your relationships and influence are critical to understanding and informing policy and regulatory landscapes

Government is either ‘the’ stakeholder or ‘a’ stakeholder. Policy changes, new regulations and shifting public opinion can impact opportunities and plans. We advise and support clients to influence decision making, and to ensure the right people hear the right messages.

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Transaction and Financial Communications

A clear position, consistent narrative and stakeholder knowledge is core to a successful transaction.

We support clients through commercial and organisational transformations, and market or activist challenges. We help protect and strengthen reputation and value through preparation, and by building trust with and managing stakeholders to mitigate risk and generate support.

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