With COVID-19 restrictions easing, a series of bushfire recovery outreach events is being rolled out across New South Wales so fire-affected communities can access the latest information from multiple agencies in one place. The information includes details of two increased Australian Red Cross bushfire grants.
Red Cross has doubled the amount of its residence repair grant for home owners. The grant of $10,000 will help with the costs of structural damage or damage to critical private water, septic or power infrastructure.
Red Cross is also making a second top-up to the re-establishment grant, with a further $10,000 to home owner occupiers. Between the initial emergency grant and the re-establishment grant, people who lost their homes in the bushfires can access up to $60,000 per household through Red Cross.
"We want to make it easy for people affected by the bushfires to access support. Red Cross is working with other recovery agencies and local governments to provide a one-stop-shop for bushfire-affected communities across New South Wales," Jessie Huard , Red Cross NSW State Recovery Coordinator said. "Red Cross wants to encourage people to come forward to access grants. We will be there to answer people's questions about applications they've already made, how to apply for financial assistance, and to offer other support they may need."
Red Cross is contacting everyone who has already received a grant, to make it easy for them to access top-up payments if they are still experiencing financial hardship.
The following grants are open until 31 August:
- emergency grant for people whose homes were destroyed ($20,000)
- re-establishment grant for people whose homes were destroyed ($10,000-$40,000)
- residence repair grant for home owner occupiers (now $10,000)
- bereavement grant for senior next-of-kin of those who died in the fires ($20,000)
- injury grant for people hospitalised for injuries ($7,500)
"Our volunteers have been providing support over the phone in recent weeks but now that COVID-19 restrictions are easing, Red Cross volunteers are out and about in communities to help people to apply for grants," Ms Huard said. "We encourage people to visit us at the community outreach events."
Calendar of events:
June
24th – Nana Glen with multiple agencies (Coffs Harbour LGA)
24th – Nerrigundah (Eurobodalla LGA) – Red Cross & Anglicare
24th – Batlow (Snowy Valleys LGA) – multiple agencies attending
25th – Tooma and Maragle (Snowy Valleys LGA) – multiple agencies attending
25th – Mogo (Eurobodalla LGA) – multiple agencies attending
25th – Cobargo (Bega Valley LGA) –Red Cross
25th – Bombala (Bombala LGA) – multiple agencies attending
26th – Torrington (Tenterfield LGA) – multiple agencies attending
26th – Cooma (Snowy-Monaro LGA) – multiple agencies attending
27th – Hickeys Creek (Kempsey LGA) – multiple agencies attending
28th – Araluen (Queanbeyan-Palerang LGA) – multiple agencies attending
30th – Tumbarumba (Snowy Valleys LGA) – multiple agencies attending
July
1st – Whiporie (Richmond Valley LGA) – Red Cross [at Whiporie General store and will be located here fortnightly)
4th – Bodalla (Eurobodalla LGA) – multiple agencies attending
TBC – Drake (Tenterfield LGA) – multiple agencies attending
TBC – multiple locations (Bega Valley LGA) – multiple agencies attending
TBC – multiple locations (Wingecarribee LGA) – multiple agencies attending
TBC – (Wollondilly LGA) – Red Cross
People can apply for grants at redcross.org.au/grants. They can call 1800 RED CROSS (1800 733 276) for support with their application.
