Following recent changes to departmental responsibilities, the functions of the former Department of Treaty, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Communities and the Arts are transitioning to new departments. Work is underway to update departments’ websites.

Personal hardship assistance available for Queenslanders affected by bushfires

Posted: Wednesday 8 November 2023

  • Grants are available for residents affected by bushfires – visit www.qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp for up-to-date locations and information.
  • People needing financial assistance or mental health support can contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.
  • People in impacted areas who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness can call the free Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753 (24/7).

Residents of fire-affected locations in Queensland can access financial assistance and emotional support online at www.qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp or through the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Grants are available to assist Queenslanders who have suffered hardship due to fires or are unable to meet their immediate needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.

Financial assistance (not income or asset tested) includes:

  • Emergency Hardship Assistance grants of $180 for eligible individuals and up to $900 for families of five or more for help with essential needs, food, medication, clothing and temporary accommodation.
  • Essential Services Hardship Assistance grants of $150 for eligible individuals and up to $750 for families of five or more for help with essential services, such as power, gas, water and sewage, that have been disrupted due to the fires.

A range of income-tested grants is available to assist households impacted by the disaster, including:

  • Essential Household Content Grants up to $1,765 for eligible individuals and $5,300 for couples or families to replace lost essential household contents, such as bed linen and white goods.
  • Structural Assistance Grants up to $50,000 for eligible applicants to help with structural repairs or contribution towards replacement of dwelling.
  • Essential Services Safety and Reconnection grants of up to $5,000 per household to inspect and reconnect damaged services, such as electricity, gas and water.

Financial assistance is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments through Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

To check which locations are eligible for assistance, apply for grants, or seek additional support, visit www.qld.gov.au/DisasterHelp or call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.

Help is available to anyone who needs housing support following the Western and Darling Downs bushfires.

The Department of Housing can help find temporary and emergency accommodation and provide a range of housing and rental assistance.

Support is available to both homeowners and renters, visit qld.gov.au/housing for more information.

Housing Service Centres (HSC) continue to deliver housing services. Contact your local HSC by calling 13 QGOV (13 74 68) during business hours or visit a centre if it is safe to do so.

If you are experiencing or are at risk of homelessness, call the free Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753 (24/7).

[ENDS] Media contact: media@dsdsatsip.qld.gov.au

Last reviewed:12 November 2024

Last modified:12 November 2024

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence
Back to top

Cultural acknowledgement

We pay our respects to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ancestors of this land, their spirits and their legacy. The foundations laid by these ancestors—our First Nations peoples—give strength, inspiration and courage to current and future generations towards creating a better Queensland.

Our human rights commitment

We will respect, protect and promote human rights within our decision-making and actions.