The Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant is available as a contribution to support people directly impacted by a disaster to who are unable to meet their immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.

This Grant has been activated for the South West Queensland Bushfires November 2024.

This grant supports people affected by a disaster to get:

• food
• clothing
• medical supplies
• temporary accommodation.

You can apply for $180 per person, up to $900 for a family of 5 or more.

This grant isn’t income or asset tested.

You will receive payment by electronic funds transfer (EFT) to the bank account you listed in your application. The timing depends on when your bank processes the payment.

When available, you can also collect a prepaid Recovery Debit Card from a Community Recovery Hub, which can be used at any shops with EFTPOS facilities and all ATMs.

You must meet all of these requirements:

• either live in or are stranded in an eligible area affected by a disaster event
• have suffered hardship as a result of the event
• are unable to meet your immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation.

You can’t apply to repair:

• business loss or damage including compensation for loss of income
• farm or property damage (excluding principal place of residence)
• loss of tools of trade
• loss of power or essential services to your home (you may be eligible for an Essential Services Hardship Assistance grant if the loss is for more than 5 days).
• isolation within property (unless you are suffering hardship as a direct result of the event).

• Phone: 1800 173 349