Financial resources

Financial services

• Centacare FNQ: 4044 0130
• Rural Financial Counselling Service NQ: 4652 5669
• National Debt helpline: 1300 007 007

Financial assistance

Cairns Regional Council

Council will provide financial assistance in the form of extended interest free repayment plans for rates notices to those ratepayers who have been severely impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper flooding event.

Ratepayers can submit their requests online and Council Officers will be in contact within 10 business days to discuss their individual circumstances.

Council will also ensure impacted ratepayers are not charged for any excess water usage that may arise from this weather event.

Queensland Government

The Queensland Government has made financial assistance available to residents in the Cairns Local Government Area. For all details, to check your eligibility, or to apply;

• Call the Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349 or
• Visit the Queensland Government Tropical Cyclone Jasper personal hardship financial assistance webpage

Personal Hardship Assistance Grant

Helps with essential needs, food, medication, clothing and temporary accommodation.

• Eligibility: experiencing personal hardship and can’t meet immediate essential needs
• Amount: $180 for individuals; $900 for families of 5 or more

Essential Services Hardship Assistance

Helps with essential services such as power, gas, water and sewerage.

• Eligibility: lost one or more essential services for more than 5 days and are experiencing personal hardship as a result
• Amount: $150 for individuals; up to $750 for families of 5 or more

Essential Household Contents grant

To replace essential lost household contents, such as bed linen and white goods.

• Amount: $1765 for individuals; up to $5300 for couples or families

Australian Government

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) and Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) are available.

• The AGDRP is a one-off payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child who have suffered a significant loss as a result of the floods, including a severely damaged or destroyed home or a serious injury.
• The DRA provides up to 13 weeks of federal income support to assist eligible employees or sole traders who experience a loss of income as a direct result of a major disaster.

The easiest way for people to claim is online through myGov.

For help with claiming, phone the Australian Government Emergency information line on 180 22 66. To speak to someone in their language, call the Centrelink multilingual phone service on 131 202..

Primary producers, small business and not-for-profits

Financial assistance from the Queensland Government includes:

• extraordinary disaster assistance recovery grants of up to $50,000
• disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000 (concessional rates)
• disaster assistance (essential working capital) loans of up to $100,000.

Complete the natural disaster business survey to advise what assistance you may need.