Assistance is available to residents, businesses and industry impacted by natural disasters.
Following a significant event, State and Federal government assistance becomes available to:
Please click on the titles below to view support available.
Telephone: Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349.
Online: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies
Essential Household Contents Grant
One-off payment for households who are uninsured or unable to claim insurance as a contribution towards replacing or repairing essential household contents e.g. bed linen and white goods. Up to $1,765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/ families. An onsite assessment of damage will be conducted and photographic evidence of items is required before disposal. More eligibility criteria online, including income test.
Essential Services Safety & Reconnection
To help owner/occupied households that are uninsured or unable to claim insurance to reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster. Up to $200 towards a safety inspection for each essential service needing reconnection (electricity, gas, water and sewerage or septic system) and up to $4,200 towards repair work.
Structural Assistance Grant
One-off payment towards the cost of repairs to or contribution to replacement of dwellings to ensure the home is habitable, secure and safe. An onsite assessment of damage will be conducted Up to $50,000. More eligibility conditions online including that you are uninsured or unable to claim insurance.
How to Access Financial Assistance
More information:
Replacing Lost or Destroyed Documents
Various agencies provide free document replacement to people who live in a declared disaster area.
Births, Deaths and Marriages documentation, licences, passports, and family law documents.
For further information please visit: Replacing lost or destroyed documents | Community support | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Home Assist Secure
Is a service for Queenslanders aged 60 years and over, or people of any age with a disability, who can’t undertake or pay for critical home maintenance without assistance.
This service provides safety-related information, referrals and subsidised assistance.
Your local Home Assist Secure service can provide information about, home maintenance, repairs, minor modifications, safety and security upgrades, other assistance that the Queensland Government provides.
Staff can also help you, employ tradespeople to do repairs or modifications, plan future work.
For eligibility criteria please visit: Home Assist Secure | Homes and housing | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au) or contact local provider, Tablelands Home Assist Secure, Phone: 07 4091 4512, Email: homeassistatherton@gmail.com for more information.
Financial Assistance – Mortgage relief loans of up to $20K can help you meet your home loan repayments while dealing with unexpected changes in circumstances. You may also be eligible for a bond loan if you need to move into private renal accommodation. A rental grant can help you meet the costs of moving into a private rental accommodation.
More information: Housing help after a disaster
RentConnect – RentConnect officers can help you:
More information about help with housing, including repairing your home and advice for cleaning up after a disaster: Housing help after a disaster
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – Grants of up to $50,000 are available for affected small businesses and not for profit organisations to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace or repair damaged infrastructure and stock and other costs associated with the recovery process. Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – Tropical (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Small Business Exceptional Assistance Grant Program – Grant of up to $20,000 to provide financial support to small businesses that experienced significant disruptions and losses during the peak Christmas and New Year trading period, to re-establish operations and maintain employment. Small Business Exceptional Assistance Grant Program | Business Queensland
Disaster Assistance Loans – Loans are available to assist small businesses and non-profit organisations with re-establishing normal operations. Maximum loan amount $250,000 for small business and $100,000 for not for profits. Applications close 31 December 2025. Disaster Assistance Loans | Queensland Rural and Industry (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loans – Loans up to $100,000 are available to assist small businesses and non-profit organisations with essential working capital for expenses. Applications close 31 December 2025. Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan | (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Business Recovery Resources – Advice and assistance to help you prepare your business for natural disasters, respond to and recover from a natural disaster and access financial assistance and other support. Recover from natural disasters | Business Queensland
Free mentoring for recovery and business support – Free access to industry experts from across Queensland who can provide insights, options and suggestions to help your business recover and grow. Find out more: Mentoring for Growth program | Business Queensland
Small Business Wellness Coaches – Access support for your mental health and well-being when recovering from a natural disaster. Free one-on-one wellness coaching is available to help small business owners with unique and personal business challenges, needs and opportunities. Business Wellness Coaching for Small & Rural Businesses (rfcsnq.com.au)
Small business financial counselling – Businesses experiencing or at risk of experiencing financial hardship can access free, impartial and confidential support, including cash flow planning, budgeting and insolvency advice. Free Financial Counselling for Small Business (rfcsnq.com.au)
Queensland Small Business Commissioner – The Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner provides a range of advocacy services including informal resolution and mediation for lease, retail tenancy, and franchise dispute assistance. Factsheets – Queensland Small Business Commissioner (qsbc.qld.gov.au)
Mental Health and Wellbeing Support – Owning and running a small business can be challenging, particularly during difficult time such as natural disasters. Mental health and wellbeing resources for businesses | Business Queensland
Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – Grants of up to $75,000 are available to assist directly impacted primary producers with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement. Applications close 20 December 2024. Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants – Tropical (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme – Grants of up to $10,000 to help rural landholders pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of their primary production enterprise that has suffered damage as a result of 2023-2024 disaster events. Applications close 1 November 2024. Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme | Queensland Rural (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Disaster Assistance Loans – Loans are available to assist primary producers with re-establishing normal operations. Maximum loan amount $250,000. Applications close 31 December 2025. Disaster Assistance Loans | Queensland Rural and Industry (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan – Loans available to assist primary producers with essential working capital for expenses. Maximum loan amount $100,000. Applications close 31 December 2025. Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan | (qrida.qld.gov.au)
Rural Landholder Recovery Grants Program 2023 Tropical Cyclone Jasper – Grants of up to $10,000 are available for clean-up and reinstatement activities to help rural landholders pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of their primary production enterprise that has suffered damage as a result of 2023-2024 disaster events.
Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme | Queensland Rural (qrida.qld.gov.au)
A rural landholder for the purposes of this assistance is defined as an owner or lessee of land of at least 10 hectares in the DRFA activated area that sustained direct damage, that earns at least $20,000 per annum from a primary production enterprise on the affected property, but not more than $250,000 from other activities and is not eligible for DRFA primary producer assistance.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid’s When disaster strikes—cyclones, storms and floods guide helps Queenslanders with their insurance claims after a storm, cyclone or flood. It gives information on home building and contents insurance policies.
Recognise scams and dodgy traders relating to natural disasters.
GIVIT – Queensland flooding assistance
Donate items, funds or time here: https://www.givit.org.au/queensland-flooding
Need help? Visit: https://www.givit.org.au/need-help
St Vincent De Paul
Disaster Recovery Assistance: Phone 1800 846 643 or visit https://www.vinnies.org.au/qld/find-help
Donate to the Vinnies Cyclone and Flood appeal here: Vinnies Appeal
Community Recovery Support Services FNQ
A comprehensive list of Regional Community Support Services in the Mareeba District is available here: Community Support Services Brochure Mareeba (www.qld.gov.au)
Insurance Council of Australia
The Insurance Council of Australia is the representative body for General Insurers and Reinsurers in Australia. They do not provide individual advice on general insurance products.
Starting a clean up after a flood: What to do when you return to your property after flood – Insurance Council of Australia
Australian Financial Complaints Authority
Do you have a complaint about your Insurer? If you’ve lodged a complaint with your insurer and are not happy with the outcome, contact the Australian Financial Complaints Authority for advice, visit: Floods and storms disaster support | Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) or phone 1800 931 678.
Read AFCA’s factsheet about flood claim decision complaints here.
Complaints about flood claim decisions
When considering complaints about flood claim decisions, AFCA will evaluate all the available information to determine if the insurer’s claim decision is fair in all the circumstances. If your complaint is about a flood claim decision, you should provide the following information as early as possible in the complaint process:
Australia Post – Free 12-month mail redirection for special circumstances
If you’re in charge of a deceased estate or are a victim of domestic violence or a natural disaster within Australia, you may be eligible for free mail redirection.
Free 12-month mail redirection for special circumstances – Australia Post (auspost.com.au)
Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant – Grant from $20,000 to $1M to assist not-for-profit sport and active recreation organisations with the clean-up, repair or replacement of equipment or facilities directly damaged by an eligible disaster event and to re-establish activities. Applications close 31 January 2025. Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant | Recreation, sport and arts | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
Whether you are looking for mental health support for yourself, someone you care about, or just trying to improve your wellbeing – Head to Health is a good place to start.
Head to Health helps everyone access the mental health and wellbeing services that are right for them. It makes it easier to navigate and choose the most suitable care options, whether that’s face-to-face, via phone, or online.
For more information or support, please visit: Home | Head to Health or call: 1800 595 212
Free, digital psychological care with MindSpot
MindSpot provides free, anonymous assessment and treatment for adults experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and chronic pain. MindSpot Support Australian adults with free, confidential psychological assessments and treatments, and access to qualified therapists.
After you have completed a free assessment at MindSpot, you can choose from different treatment options to help you to recover from depression or anxiety and stress.
MindSpot are funded by the Australian Government and all services are free. For more information, please visit: MindSpot – Online Mental Health Support or phone 1800 61 44 34 (8am-8pm AEST) for confidential support.
Red Cross
Access additional support from the Red Cross – information addressing the practical aspects of responding and recovery (such as How to help after a disaster ), as well as psychosocial and well-being needs (such as Dealing with the stress of an emergency and Looking after yourself and your family after a disaster).
Lifeline
Lifeline offers 24/7 Crisis Support via phone 13 11 14, online chat Lifeline Crisis Online Chat Service | Lifeline Australia or text message 0477 13 11 44.
Community Recovery Support Services FNQ
A comprehensive list of Regional Community Support Services in the Mareeba District is available here: Community Support Services Brochure Mareeba (www.qld.gov.au)
Rural Health Connect – Psychology Services
Rural Health Connect is a platform that links people to psychologists over video and phone calls. Affordable or free access to support is provided.
Further information is available by visiting: Connects Rural Australia to Mental Health Services (ruralhealthconnect.com.au)
For appointment assistance, please phone: 0493 432 144 or 0493 201 005
Beyond Blue
Talk or chat online to a counsellor
If you’re going through a hard time right now, the Beyond Blue Support Service is available 24/7 for brief counselling. Most calls last around 20 minutes.
Beyond Blue Counsellors will listen and help you find the extra mental health help you need. Get free, confidential counselling (local call costs apply):
Call a counsellor on 1300 22 4636 or Chat to a counsellor online. Accessibility and language support are available for telephone counselling.
The Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA) is administering Rural Landholder Recovery Grants of up to $10,000 to help rural landholders with the clean-up and reinstatement of their small-scale primary production enterprise that has suffered damage from the 2023 Northern Queensland Bushfires.
Applications for these grants close on 31 March 2025.
For more information, please visit: Rural Landholder Recovery Grant Scheme | Queensland Rural (qrida.qld.gov.au)
The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) have been closely monitoring fires across north-west Queensland.
Primary producers impacted by bushfires are encouraged to report any damages or losses to your farm through the disaster impact survey. These survey reports help to determine the need for additional assistance to support the recovery needs of impacted communities. Please include date-stamped photographs to show the damage from this natural disaster event. Most phone cameras do this automatically.
If you have suffered significant damage to your farm from a natural disaster, you can apply for an individual disaster stricken property (IDSP) declaration
This means you can access:
For more information visit https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/natural-disaster/prepare or contact the DAF general enquiry number 13 25 23.