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Help for Queenslanders

Support is now available for eligible Queenslanders impacted by the February 2022 rainfall and flooding event. Flood-affected residents and businesses can access a range of government funding and support services to help recover from this natural disaster.

Personal support and services for Queenslanders

A range of support grants and services are available for individuals and families affected by the recent Queensland rainfall and flooding event. For immediate information and support:

  • Call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 if you are experiencing emotional stress or personal financial hardship.
  • Download the Self Recovery App for access to vital information about disasters and emergencies in Queensland. The app features vital tips and information about preparing for and recovering from disasters.
  • Visit the Regional Community Support Services for a range of local and general community support services available to individuals and families after a disaster.
  • If a landowner believes recent flooding impacts the value of their land, contact 1300 664 217 or go to statutory land valuations.
  • This factsheet on land valuation outlines how flood events are considered in your land valuation.

Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme

The Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme provides emergency funding to individuals and households impacted by natural disasters under four categories:

  • Emergency Hardship Assistance: grants of up to $180 for individuals and up to $900 for families is available for immediate relief and recovery needs, such as food, clothing, emergency accommodation or medical supplies.
  • Essential Services Hardship Assistance: grants of up to $150 for individuals and up to $750 for families is available for those suffering hardship by loss of essential services for more than five days and that are unable to support their own recovery.
  • Essential Household Contents Grant*: financial contributions of up to $1765 for a single adult and up to $5300 for a couple/family is available to help people in activated disaster areas who are uninsured or unable to claim insurance replace essential household contents.
  • Structural Assistance Grant*: financial contributions of up to $10,995 per single adult and up to $14,685 per couple/family is available to help repair damage to an uninsured dwelling (including caravans and residential vessels) to return it to a safe, habitable, and secure condition.
  • Essential services safety and reconnection grant: If you’re uninsured, or unable to claim insurance, you may be eligible for a grant to help you reconnect essential services that were damaged by a disaster. Financial contributions of up to $200 are available for a safety inspection of each essential service needing reconnection (electricity, gas, water and sewerage or septic system) and up to $4200 is available for repair work to enable essential services to be reconnected.
  • Transport and motoring assistance: Support for individuals and industry in activated disaster areas to provide vehicle registration concessions and licensing assistance.

Apply now

For more information or to apply for the Personal Hardship Assistant Scheme:

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Allowance

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment is a one-off, payment of $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per child who have been adversely affected by a major disaster in an affected Local Government Area.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to help people who have had a loss of income as a direct result of the disaster and work or live in the affected Local Government Area.

You have until 29 September 2022 to make a claim for the following Local Government Areas (LGAs):

  • Balonne
  • Brisbane
  • Bundaberg
  • Cherbourg
  • Fraser Coast
  • Gladstone
  • Gold Coast
  • Goondiwindi
  • Gympie
  • Ipswich
  • Lockyer Valley
  • Logan
  • Moreton Bay
  • Noosa
  • North Burnett
  • Redland
  • Scenic Rim
  • Somerset
  • South Burnett
  • Southern Downs
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba
  • Western Downs

Apply now

For more information and to apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance:

Housing and accommodation support

Support for housing and emergency accommodation is available to Queenslanders affected by a natural disaster including home-owners and private renters.

  • Urgent maintenance

    Call 1800 808 107 if you’re a public housing tenant and require urgent maintenance. Public housing tenants can also use Tenant Self Service or the Tenant Assist Qld app.

  • Temporary accommodation

    Call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or visit your nearest Housing Service Centre for help finding temporary accommodation.

  • Financial Support for housing after a disaster

    Visit the Emergency and Accommodation webpage for information on about available financial support for housing after a disaster.

  • Homelessness

    Call the Homeless Hotline on 1800 474 753 (toll free, 24/7) if you are experiencing, or at risk of becoming homeless.

Free legal advice

Flood-affected residents can contact Legal Aid Queensland for free legal information and advice:

Free replacement of documents

Queensland Government departments and agencies are replacing important documents free of charge to flood-affected Queenslanders.

  • Birth, death and marriage certificates

    The Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages is providing free replacement life event certificates to people in disaster declared areas (such as birth and marriage certificates). Visit the Replacing lost or destroyed documents webpage for more information, or apply via:

  • Blue cards and exemption cards

    Blue cards and exemption cards lost or destroyed in the floods will be replaced by Blue Card Services for free. For more information or to apply:

Mental health and wellbeing

Visit the mental health and wellbeing webpage to access a range of support services and resources, if you are experiencing emotional distress or require mental health and wellbeing support.

Business support and services

A range of support is available to Queensland businesses affected by the recent Queensland rainfall and flooding event:

Financial support for businesses and not-for-profits organisations

Disaster assistance grants are now available to assist flood-affected small businesses, not-for-profit organisations, and sporting and community clubs across South East Queensland.

Recovery Grant

Grants of up to $50,000 are available with $15,000 paid upfront and the balance paid if needed, once proof of payment is provided. This grant can be used for clean-up activities, repairs including damage to equipment, flooring and walls, and to replace lost stock.

Disaster Assistance Loans

Loans of up to $250,000 are available for up to 10 years at a concessional rate. This can be used to repair or replace damaged plant, equipment or buildings, replace stock or meet carry on costs including rents or rates.

Disaster Assistance Loans (Essential Working Capital)

Loans of up to $100,000 are available for up to 10 years at a concessional rate. This can be used to pay staff, creditors, rent or rates and to purchase goods that are essential for your business, such as fuel.

Primary Producers Recovery Grants

Grants of up to $75,000 are available with $15,000 paid upfront with evidence of damage. If needed, an additional payment of up to $60,000 is available, once proof of expenditure is provided. This grant can be used for various clean up and reinstatement activities including salvaging crops and repairing damaged farm infrastructure and equipment.

Primary producers can also apply for Disaster Assistance Loans and Disaster Assistance Loans (Essential Working Capital) similar to those for small businesses and not-for-profit organisations.

Land rent relief

Flood-affected Queenslanders can now apply to defer land rent payments for up to eight-months. This assistance allows eligible landholders with land rent due in March 2022 to defer payments until 1 December 2022. Visit the Rents and hardships assistance webpage for more information.

Apply

To apply for the Recovery Grant, Disaster Assistance Loans:

To apply for the  Primary Producer Recovery Grant:

Sector specific support

The Small Business Disaster Hub provides resources and advice specific to your industry sector.

Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation

The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation are available to provide advice to flood-affected licensees on managing their regulatory requirements during the flood event and recovery period. For assistance and advice contact:

Queensland Tourism Business Financial Counselling Service

The Queensland Tourism Business Financial Counselling Service provides free financial counselling support to help tourism operators. Visit the website for more information and to apply.

Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program

Grants are available to support not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations with funding to re-establish their facilities and activities after extreme natural events.

Additional funding is also now available via the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) of up to $20,000 for eligible sporting and community clubs and organisations. Visit the Sport and Recreation Recovery Grant for more information.

Employer Assistance Line

If you’ve been forced to close or reduce operations, the Employer Assistance Line can provide you with free industrial relations advice and support for managing staff and meeting Fair Work Act 2009 obligations. Phone 1300 731 988 for assistance.

How can I help Queensland recover?

Volunteering

Ready Reserves are ready to be deployed once floodwaters recede and it is safe to attend affected areas.

To volunteer in Queensland’s recovery effort, register with Volunteering Queensland EV CREW. Registering will provided updates and link volunteers with volunteering opportunities and requests for help as they become available.

Volunteer efforts work best when coordinated in a safe way for volunteers and those receiving assistance. For safety reasons, we urge Queensland volunteers not to attend evacuation centres or flooded areas.

Donations

Visit GIVIT to donate to flood-affected Queenslanders. The Queensland Government partners with GIVIT to manage offers of donated goods, services and funds and to provide exactly what affected people and communities need to recover.

Last updated:
3 March 2022
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