Updates
Grants and support available for flood-affected residents across South-East Queensland
Quick links:
- Queensland Government ‘Help For Queenslanders’ portal
- Fact sheet: Grants and support for flood-affected Queenslanders
- Queensland Government disaster portal
- Queensland Government Self Recovery app
- Translink public transport updates
Quick grant links:
Australian Government:
Queensland Government
- Emergency Hardship Assistance grants
- Essential services hardship assistance grants (Income test and conditions apply)
- Essential household contents grants (Income test and conditions apply)
- Essential services safety and reconnection grants (Income test and conditions apply)
- Structural assistance grants (Income test and conditions apply)
- Transport and motoring assistance (Conditions apply)
Australian Red Cross
The local government areas activated for DRFA assistance for this event are:
| Brisbane | Bundaberg | Cherbourg | Fraser Coast |
| Gold Coast | Goondiwindi | Gladstone | Gympie |
| Ipswich | Lockyer Valley | Logan | Moreton Bay Region |
| Noosa | North Burnett | Redlands | Scenic Rim |
| Somerset | South Burnett | Southern Downs | Sunshine Coast |
| Toowoomba | Western Downs | Balonne |
Further grant information
Grants are being made available across impacted areas to support residents who are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the flooding. Emergency Hardship Assistance grants help cover the costs of essential items, such as food, medication and clothing, for people who have been directly impacted by this disaster, and
Residents across South-East Queensland in the zones identified above who have been impacted by severe flooding over recent days may be eligible for financial assistance, which includes:
- (Australian Government) Services Australia Disaster Payments: $1,000 per adult, or $400 for each child younger than 16
- Emergency Hardship Assistance grants: Up to $180 per person and $900 for a family of five or more. Available for 7 days after becoming available in your area. (Not income or asset tested. Eligibility not based on residential or citizenship status.)
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance grants: $150 per person or up to $750 for a family of five or more (Not income or asset tested)
- Essential Household Contents grants: Up to $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families (Conditions apply)
- Structural Assistance grants: Up to $10,995 for single adults and up to $14,685 for couples/families (Conditions apply)
- Essential Services Safety and Reconnection grant: Covering inspection up to $200, and repairs up to $4,200 (Conditions apply)
- Transport and motoring assistance (Conditions apply)
Financial assistance is available under jointly-funded Commonwealth/State-Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA). Emergency Hardship Assistance grants help cover the costs of essential items, such as food, medication and clothing, for people who have been directly impacted by this disaster.
Assessments are continuing as the flooding situation changes and other areas will be activated as needs emerge.
All grant applications for those who have been impacted could be made through the Community Recovery online portal.
Residents without internet access can ring the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to get information or apply for grants and access to support services over the phone.
Anyone impacted by the flood event can apply for housing assistance, including home owners and private renters, by visiting www.qld.gov.au or calling 13QGOV (13 74 68).
People can download the Self Recovery app for information or to apply for grants.
Australian Red Cross grants
Australian Red Cross have announced they will support flood affected households with cash grants, following a recent nationwide telethon that attracted millions of dollars in donations. Funds raised through the telethon will support two types of cash grants:
- Bereavement grants of $20,000 to support senior next-of-kin of those who died as a direct result of the floods with immediate needs (funeral and other related expenses).
- A $500 relief grant per household to help with basic needs such as food, clothing or personal items for people whose primary place of residence was affected by the floods and who are experiencing financial hardship as a result.
Grant applications are open as of Friday, 18 March at redcross.org.au/grants, with a simple online form to be completed.
GIVIT charity
Some people on certain visas may not be eligible for some forms of government assistance. In these cases, you may like to consider whether the charity organisation GIVIT can assist. GIVIT works with registered support organisations to facilitate donations to people in need. Further information here.
RACQ Foundation flood relief grants
RACQ Foundation is helping grassroots community organisations get back on their feet after the recent floods, with new grants worth up to $100,000 now on offer.
The special funding round, announced as part of the Foundation’s Community Grants Program, will focus on supporting local groups such as sporting clubs, historical and show societies, men’s sheds and charities that have been impacted by recent flooding in south east Queensland..
While flood damage and impacts can vary among organisations and regions, some examples of projects that may benefit from the grants include:
- Equipment – funding for personal protective equipment (PPE), and/or replacement of sporting equipment
- Capital works – to repair or improve infrastructure including fences, posts, building works
- Technology services – to restore or improve digital services, digital products (such as headphones, software) and connectivity
- Health/Domestic violence – projects related to mental health and wellbeing.
Application are open now, closing 10 April. Find out more at the RACQ Foundation.
Support for not-for-profit organisations
Queensland not-for-profit organisations impacted during disaster events may be eligible for Commonwealth/State Government concessional loans, subsidies or grants to help them recover.
Full information is available through the Queensland Government website.
Community Recovery Hubs now operating
These hubs can assist eligible residents with financial assistance and support services as flood recovery continues.
Alternatively, the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 can provide information and assist with grant applications. You can check eligibility criteria here.
Recruiting for flood relief volunteers
Volunteering Queensland is currently working with several Councils in flood impacted regions to support the coordinated response of volunteers.
These councils include:
- City of Gold Coast – Gold Coast Flood Clean up
- Ipswich City Council – Ipswich Flood Recovery
- Logan City Council – Logan Legends
- Moreton Bay Regional Council – Moreton Army
- Fraser Coast Regional Council
- Noosa Shire Council
*Brisbane City Council exited the list on Sunday, 6 March 2022
Volunteering Queensland is assisting councils with registrations and managing offers of assistance. Current call outs are for the regions specified above only.
- Register as an Emergency Volunteer here
- Register to receive help
- Visit Volunteering Queensland for region updates
Assistance with legal matters
Legal Aid Queensland has a helpful set of resources on its page: Natural disaster legal help. This includes legal information factsheets on insurance, property (including rental and tenancy), debt and financial problems, and businesses.
Legal Aid also has a priority 1300 number for legal problems arising from natural disasters: 1300 527 700
Caxton Legal Centre has produced legal information for South-East Queensland community for the 2022 floods: Your rights in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
The Law for All podcast: Dealing with insurance and damage when a natural disaster hits
Mortgage relief
Also, some individual banks may allow loan deferrals or reduced repayment arrangements for home, personal and some business loans. Australian banks have announced options to defer loan repayments for up to 3 months for those customers affected by flood disasters in Queensland and NSW. Customers are encouraged to ‘talk to their bank as soon as they are able and find out what assistance is available’.