Tropical Cyclone Narelle March 2026
Personal hardship financial assistance is available for north and north west Queensland communities impacted by Tropical Cyclone Narelle March 2026.
If you have been affected by this event, you can:
- check if your area is eligible for financial assistance
- find out about the different grants available
- locate your nearest Community Recovery Hub
- access brochures for key community support contacts in your area
- find out about other support services available.
Eligible areas
Financial assistance is available for people who are impacted by this event in these eligible areas:
Defined localities
- Archer River
- Coen
- Edward River
- Holroyd River
- Iron Range
- Jardine River
- Lakefield
- Lizard Island
- Lockhart River (Cook Shire only)
- Mapoon (Cook Shire only)
- Mission River (Cook Shire only)
- Shelburne
- Starcke
- Wenlock
- Yarraden.
Note: Closure dates for the following grants in this LGA:
- Emergency Hardship Assistance (EHA) – closes 27 April 2026
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance (ESHA) – closes 27 April 2026.
All areas.
Note: Closure dates for the following grants in this LGA:
- Emergency Hardship Assistance (EHA) – closes 27 April 2026
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance (ESHA) – closes 27 April 2026.
All areas.
Note: Closure dates for the following grants in this LGA:
- Emergency Hardship Assistance (EHA) – closes 27 April 2026.
All areas.
Note: Closure dates for the following grants in this Authority:
- Emergency Hardship Assistance (EHA) – closes 08 May 2026
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance (ESHA) – closes 08 May 2026.
Check your eligibility
You need to be aged 18 years or older to complete an online application and have:
- Identification (ID)—Driver licence and Medicare card
Note: If you do not have these, other forms of ID are accepted. Call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349. - Bank account details.
- A valid email address.
If you are under the age of 18, please contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 to obtain advice on how to lodge an application.
Complete this form to find out what financial assistance you may be eligible for.
Start typing and select the address from the list. If your address does not appear, select Enter address manually, and complete each field for your address.
Unfortunately you are not eligible for any of the Queensland Government grants available for this event.
The Australian Government may also be offering disaster recovery payments.
To find information about other supports visit the Disaster Assist website.
Available grants
The following grants have been activated for this event. To find out which of these grants you may be eligible for, complete the form above.
Note: Application closure dates for the Emergency Hardship Assistance (EHA) and Emergency Services Hardship Assistance (ESHA) grants are published under each Local Government Area (LGA) or Authority.
The Emergency Hardship Assistance grant is for help with essential needs, food, medication, clothing and temporary accommodation. This grant may be available if you:
- live in or are stranded in the affected area
- have experienced personal hardship and can’t meet your immediate essential needs.
Grant amount:
- $180 for individuals
- up to $900 for families of 5 or more.
More information about the Emergency Hardship Assistance grant.
The Essential Services Hardship Assistance grant is for help with essential services such as, power, gas, water, and sewage. This grant may be available if:
- you live in the affected area
- you have lost 1 or more essential services for more than 5 days and are experiencing personal hardship as a result
- your utility service provider/s confirm that you lost these essential services.
Grant amount:
- $150 for individuals
- up to $750 for families of 5 or more.
More information about the Essential Services Hardship Assistance grant.
The Essential Household Contents Grant is to replace essential lost household contents, such as bed linen and white goods. This grant may be available if you:
- live in the affected area
- own the items that have been lost
- own or rent the affected residence
- are uninsured or unable to claim insurance
- meet the income limits.
We will visit your home to assess the damage. We will need photographic evidence if items must be disposed of.
Grant amount:
- $1,765 for individuals
- up to $5,300 for couples or families.
More information about the Essential Household Contents Grant.
The Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme (ESSRS) is to help with safety inspections and repairs to reconnect essential services, e.g. gas, water, electricity and sewage. A grant payment may be available if you:
- live in the affected area
- have had your essential services disconnected
- own and live in the affected residence
- are uninsured or unable to claim insurance
- meet the income limits.
We will visit your home to assess the damage.
Grant amount:
- Inspection costs—$200 for safety inspection for water, electricity, gas and sewage.
- $4,200 for repairs or replacement of these services.
More information about the Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme.
The Structural Assistance Grant is to help with structural repairs or contribution towards replacement of dwelling. This grant may be available if:
- you live in the affected area
- you own and live in the affected residence
- your home has become structurally unsafe to live in
- you are uninsured or unable to claim insurance
- you meet the income limits.
We will visit your home to assess the damage.
Grant amount:
Uninsured, low income, owner-occupiers may receive up to a maximum of $80,000 to help repair your home to make it safe, secure and habitable.
The Australian Government may also be offering support. For more information about the disaster recovery payments visit the Services Australia website.
To find information about other supports visit the Disaster Assist website.
Community Recovery Hubs
Community Recovery Hubs are a place where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support.
Some hubs may be council-led*.
Our Community Recovery workers will assist with grant applications and offer referrals to other community organisations and government agencies for further assistance.
Weipa Town Authority
House on the Hill
Address: 6 Hibberd Drive, Rocky Point
Operating hours:
- Thursday 16 April 2026, 12pm to 4pm
- Friday 17 April 2026, 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April 2026, 9am to 6pm.
Cook Shire Local Government Area
Cairns Corporate Tower
Address: 15 Lake Street, Cairns
Operating hours:
- Thursday 16 April 2026, 9am to 4pm
- Friday 17 April 2026, 8.30am to 4.30pm
- Saturday 18 April 2026, 8am to 4pm.
Support Services locations
There are no Support Services active for this event. For assistance, please call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.