Disaster Support FAQs

  • What assistance is available in my area?

    Currently there is Category A assistance for several areas which includes:

    • Counter Disaster Operations
    • Personal Hardship Assistance scheme

    The Whitsunday region and the Mackay region have Category B assistance which includes:

    • Restoration of Essential Public Assets (councils)
    • Freight Subsidies (primary producers)
    • Concessional loans (primary producers, small business, Non-for profit)

    Category C assistance is available to several areas which includes:

    • Whitsunday Regional Council
    • Mackay Regional Council
    • Part of Isaac Regional Council
    • Part of Livingstone Regional Council
    • Part of Central Highlands Regional Council
    • Part of Woorabinda Aboriginal Shire Council
    • Logan City Council
    • Scenic Rim Regional Council
    • Part of Gold Coast City Council
    • Part of Lockyer Valley Regional Council

    For further details on what services are available in your area, use the postcode search on the home page.

  • How can I report damage?

    Industry organisations and Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) are collecting data for primary producers. This data will be collated and reported through the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA).

  • How can I access the assistance available?

    Assistance is managed by Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA:

    • DAF – 13 25 23
    • QRAA – 1800 623 946

    For details on Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA officers in your area, use the postcode search on the home page.

  • How can I apply for an individual disaster declared property and what does that get me?

    If a primary producer is not in an area where Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) assistance is available but has suffered significant damage from a natural disaster, they can apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property (IDSP) declaration. Freight subsidies can be applied for under an IDSP declaration.

    To obtain an IDSP declaration, contact Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) – 13 25 23.

  • What is category A, B, C & D assistance?

    Category A – Standard assistance measures:

    • Counter Disaster Operations
    • Personal Hardship Assistance scheme

    Category B – Standard assistance measures:

    • Restoration of Essential Public Assets (councils)
    • Freight Subsidies (primary producers)
    • Concessional loans (primary producers, small business, not-for-profits)

    Category C – Standard assistance measures:

    • Recovery grants (primary producers small business, not-for-profits)

    Category D – Standard assistance measures:

    • Enhanced concessional loans, other ‘one off’ programs.
  • When can I expect to receive grants or concessional loans after application?

    Both Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and QRAA will receive a large amount of applications throughout this process so extra staff has been called upon to assist. DAF and QRAA aim to process applications as quickly as possible and it’s suggested you call DAF or QRAA to check on the status of your application.

  • I’m worried about my neighbours, they’re not coping, how can I support/help them?

    Getting off the farm is the first step for many. Community Recovery Hubs have been opened throughout Queensland to help people find the assistance they need to cope with the effects of TC Debbie:

     

    • Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre, Alfred Street, Mackay
    • Andergrove Community Centre, Celeber Drive, Andergrove,
    • Bowen TAFE Campus, Queens Road, Bowen
    • Proserpine State High School, 4 Ruge Street, Proserpine
    • Cannonvale TAFE open (10.30am to 3.30pm) – Shute Harbour Roadd, Cannonvale

    There are several phone support services as well that urge people to use these as they recovery from the disaster.

    • Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636
      See Beyond Blue’s guide to looking after yourself following a disaster HERE.
    • Lifeline – 13 11 14
      See Lifeline’s ‘Getting through floods, drought and extreme climate events’ toolkit HERE.
    • Country Call Back – 1800 54 33 54
  • As an employer, what are my responsibilities to casual and permanent staff when I can’t employ them?

    Following a disaster many employers may be concerned about the availability of work for casual and permanent staff members. As an employer, you have an obligation to ensure your current employees are kept as informed as possible of the status of their positions with your business during this uncertain time. Employees need to be aware that it may be a possibility that the loss of production may result in the loss of their jobs.

    If it is not viable to keep your employees employed, and you have exhausted all other options to try and keep your employees on, redundancy will be your final option. Both permanent and casual employees are entitled to final pays, including redundancy payouts. There are several terms and conditions around these circumstances which employers need to be aware of.

    To find out more:

    • See Fairwork Australia’s fact sheet on employment conditions during natural disasters and emergencies HERE.
    • See information on redundancy HERE.
    • Or call Annabel Hutch of GROWCOM on 07 36203 844 or email [email protected]

Recent Posts

10 Feb

Farmers encouraged to attend industry support network workshops

Queensland farmers and agricultural service providers are encouraged to attend free industry…

Queensland farmers and agricultural service providers are encouraged to attend free industry support network workshops in Ayr, Bowen, Townsville and Ingham this month.

Facilitated by the Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF), the Australian Red Cross, and the Australian and Queensland Governments, the workshops are a foundation of an industry support network and aim to equip participants with the skills and resources they need to help carry the burden and mentor fellow farmers during recovery from a disaster.

QFF CEO Dr Georgina Davis said natural disasters were part and parcel of farming in Queensland, with farmers’ resilience tested by droughts, floods, cyclones, bushfires and everything in between.

“Farmers and rural communities are no strangers to these significant and continuing challenges, and no one knows and understands the burden of recovering and rebuilding better than a fellow farmer,” Dr Davis said.

“QFF is calling on interested farmers who are knowledgeable about farm practices and business processes, to take on a supporter role to galvanise those who have experienced loss or disruption as a result of a disaster and who need a helping hand as they recover.”

“The upcoming workshops will provide interested farmer supporters with the resources and valuable skills they need to help their fellow farmers during difficult times based on the Australian Red Cross’ highly regarded, ‘Supporting the Supporters’ program.”

“These workshops are for anyone who supports their communities formally or informally. Red Cross understands that community support is most effective when led by those best placed; community members, services and organisations,” Queensland Drought Coordinator, Emergency Services David Brown said.

To register your attendance or to find out more, visit www.qff.org.au/events.

Event details

Ayr Tuesday, 23 February 2021 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm Burdekin Theatre, 161 Queen Street, Ayr QLD 4807

Bowen … Continue reading Farmers encouraged to attend industry support network workshops

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