Flood Assistance and Recovery

The Queensland Government Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy coordinates Community Recovery services to assist disaster-affected people, including emotional support, personal financial hardship assistance and housing support for people who cannot return to home after a disaster.

If you were impacted by the recent flood events and need further assistance to complete grant applications or to connect with essential support services, you can contact the Community Recovery team as follows:

Community Recovery Hotline phone 1800 173 349 - to apply for financial assistance and support services.

Community Recovery Hub located at Gympie Community Place, 18 Excelsior Road Gympie, Monday to Friday from 9am to 2pm

Community Recovery online www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies

You can also follow Community Recovery on Facebook @RecoveryQld

Gympie Community Place - support & financial assistance

People who have experienced financial hardship caused by the recent Gympie flooding may receive help with:

• Housing costs – rent & accommodation, essential household bills - electricity, gas, phone, and water
• Transport costs – travel & fuel, car registration or repairs
• Medical costs – medications, medical services & supports
• Some material goods such as essential whitegoods, technology, and school needs

Assistance is provided by appointment only. Please call the centre on 5482 1147 or call into the centre to make an appointment. Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9am to 4pm and Fridays 9am to 12pm. 18 Excelsior Road, Gympie

Free Household goods and non-perishable food

A range of charities are assisting Gympie region residents:

• Gympie Salvos located at 42 Stumm Road, Southside. They are open 9.30am – 2.30pm providing clothing, kitchenware and manchester. PH: 5482 1710 E: gympie.salvos@salvationarmy.org.au
• St Vincent de Paul located at John St Gympie. Family Assistance is open Mon, Wed and Fri from 12pm to 3pm for food hampers. Shop open 7 days.

General Mental Health and Wellbeing

Phone Support

If you or someone you care about is distressed, in crisis or needs someone to talk to, call:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7)
• Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
• Headspace Gympie: 5482 1075 (for young people aged 12-25) or 1800 650 890
• Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 (24/7)
• 1800 RESPECT (National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service): 1800 737 732
• DVConnect: 1800 811 811
• Qld Homelessness Hotline (24/7) 1800 474 753
• Parentline: 1300 301 300
• Mensline: 1300 789 978 (24/7)
• Redcross : 1800 733 111
• Rental Tenancy Authority: 1300 744 263

On-line Resources

Redcross If you want to prepare for disasters, have experienced a disaster or are recovering from a disaster, Red Cross has a host of useful emergency management resources that can help.

Lifeline provides crisis support and suicide prevention for all Australians

Headspace is the national youth mental health foundation (for 12-25 year olds)

Australian Government Department Head to Health is a digital platform to improve your own mental health, or support somebody else with mental health issues

Mindspot provides free, anonymous assessment and treatment for adults experiencing stress, anxiety, depression, OCD, PTSD, and chronic pain

RSPCA – Disasters and alerts

Gympie region based support services

There are a range of local services that provide counselling for people of all ages, with no GP referral required

• Headspace: phone: 5482 1075 (for young people 12-25)
• Gympie and District Women’s Health Centre: phone 07 5483 6588
• Uniting Care Gympie: phone 07 5480 3400

Emergency relief vouchers and support are also available in Gympie

• St Vincent de Paul Disaster Hotline 1300 NEED HELP (1300 633 343)
• Gympie Community Place 07 5482 1147
• Salvation Army 1300 371 288

Donated Household Goods

GIVIT - If you have experienced hardship and loss resulting from the flood, the community organisation can assist you in requesting items, vouchers and services through GIVIT. These requests appear on givit.org.au, and can be donated to by generous individuals, groups and companies. Common requests on GIVIT after floods include whitegoods and appliances, furniture, kitchen and household essentials, clothing, and grocery and fuel vouchers. www.givit.org.au

Wellbeing Support for Small Business

Well HQ Gympie Region is an online space for Gympie Region small business owners and employees to access tailored tools and information designed to connect an individual (or business) to wellbeing resources and mental health information. Access Well HQ Gympie Region online at https://wellhqgympie.mindstar.com.au

Building

https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/cleaning-after-flood

https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/building-property-development/building-construction/natural-disasters/approvals

https://www.qbcc.qld.gov.au/home-maintenance/rebuilding-after-natural-disaster#flood

QBCC - Homeowner guide to rebuilding after a flood(PDF, 928KB)

Resilient Homes Fund

The $741 million Resilient Homes Fund will support Queensland homeowners to improve the resilience of their residential property, following significant flood events in the 2021-22 disaster season. Homeowners in the Gympie Region whose property was flood damaged by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth (29 December 2021 – 10 January 2022) or the South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding 22 February – 5 April 2022) can be considered for initiatives under the program including repair and retrofitting with flood-resilient design, house raising, or the voluntary buy back of high-risk properties.

For further information on the scheme please visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding-programs/resilience-funding/resilient-homes-fund

Public Health

Returning to a disaster-affected house or building (health.qld.gov.au)

Restoring flood-affected domestic swimming and spa pools (health.qld.gov.au)

Rainwater tanks affected by natural disasters (health.qld.gov.au)

Dealing with mould after a storm, flood or cyclone (health.qld.gov.au)

Controlling mosquito breeding after floods, storms and cyclones (health.qld.gov.au)

https://www.asbestos.qld.gov.au/resources/safe-work-procedures/safe-cleanup-storm-damaged-materials-may-contain-asbestos

Public Health disaster management fact sheets - Datasets | Publications | Queensland Government

Post flood - Food premises information (Gympie Regional Council)(PDF, 2MB)

Post flood - Public health information (Gympie Regional Council)(PDF, 2MB)

Gympie Regional Council Rates Relief

For properties impacted by ex-tropical cyclone Seth or the February 2022 floods, Council has extended the rates due date (on the current half yearly rates notice) from 10 March 2022 to 30 June 2022, and has offered the 5% pay-on-time discount if paid in full by 30 June 2022.

If you are unable to pay your rates, contact Council today on 1300 307 800 or email rates@gympie.qld.gov.au to arrange a payment plan.

Insurance

The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) can assist residents and property owners in the Gympie region by providing guidance and information throughout the insurance claims process.

If you need assistance, please call the ICA's 24-hour disaster hotline on 1800 734 621 or visit www.understandinsurance.com.au

Assistance for individuals

Resilient Homes Fund

The $741 million Resilient Homes Fund will support Queensland homeowners to improve the resilience of their residential property, following significant flood events in the 2021-22 disaster season. Homeowners in the Gympie Region whose property was flood damaged by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth (29 December 2021 – 10 January 2022) or the South East Queensland Rainfall and Flooding 22 February – 5 April 2022) can be considered for initiatives under the program including repair and retrofitting with flood-resilient design, house raising, or the voluntary buy back of high-risk properties.

For further information on the scheme please visit www.qra.qld.gov.au/funding-programs/resilience-funding/resilient-homes-fund

Household contents, structural assistance and essential services Assistance

For information on assistance available go to the Community Recovery Hub at Gympie Community Place (18 Excelsior Road Gympie, Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm), contact the Community Recovery Hotline 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies

• Essential Household Contents Grant
• Structural Assistance Grant
• Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance

Support for eligible people adversely affected by the South-East Queensland (QLD) Floods in February 2022 www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/south-east-queensland-floods-february-2022. This is different to the January 2022 Queensland Floods, www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/queensland-floods-january-2022.

Are you on a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) plan and require NDIS support due to flood impact?

For example, flooding has damaged your wheelchair. Call the NDIS National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110. Please press “5” for help with flood-related issues for escalation.

Supporting participants through severe weather in Queensland and NSW: https://www.ndis.gov.au/news/7465-supporting-participants-through-severe-weather-queensland-and-nsw

Urgent Assistive technology repairs: https://ndis.gov.au/participants/assistive-technology-explained/assistive-technology-repairs-maintenance-and-replacement/urgent-repairs

Assistance for primary producers

Primary producers across the region impacted by the SEQ Rainfall and Flooding event in February 2022 and the ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth rainfall event in January 2022, can apply for natural disaster recovery assistance. Go to https://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/primary-producers or free call 1800 623 946.

Loans, Assistance and Freight Subsidies are also available to assist primary producers. Contact QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or visit https://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/primary-producers ; contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or visit https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/agriculture/rural-disaster-recovery

Rural Aid provides financial assistance of one-off $1,000 payment towards a bill or Gift Cards. Rural Aid Ltd also provides fodder, counselling and a volunteer Farm Army to assist disaster impacted properties. Phone: 1300 327 624 or www.ruralaid.org.au

QCWA administers the Public Rural Crisis Fund provides support for Queensland women and families suffering from natural disasters or other crises. Apply for financial support of up to $1000 per family/household. https://www.qcwa.org.au/Public-Rural-Crisis-Fund

Rural Financial Counselling Service (Gympie): phone 0428 755 708 and online at www.rfcssq.org.au

Farm and Rural Legal Service and Legal Aid: phone 1300 65 11 88

Blazeaid is a volunteer-based organisation that works with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters. Working alongside the rural families, Blazeaid volunteers help to rebuild fences and other structures that have been damaged or destroyed. Blazeaid has established a camp at Woolooga to service the Gympie region. Please text or call Tony Dingle, Woolooga Camp Coordinator direct on phone: 0429 480 138 to request assistance or to volunteer. More information available at www.blazeaid.com.au

Lifeline Farmer to Farmer, call 0412 724 879 and speak to Ross Blanch who is a farmer and a Lifeline counsellor for support for yourself or someone you know.

Assistance for small business

Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (small business) for SEQ Rainfall and Flooding and Ex-cyclone Seth

Assists directly impacted small business. $50,000 maximum grant amount. For more information and to apply go to https://www.qrida.qld.gov.au/business

Disaster Assistance for Small Businesses is available at www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/protecting-business/disaster-resilience/assistance or call 1800 623 946.

BizRebuild

A business-led initiative, developed by the Business Council of Australia, to provide practical and on the ground assistance to small and local businesses left devastated by the bushfires and floods. For more information on available vouchers and support visit - Help for flood affected communities (bizrebuild.com.au) or contact Biz Rebuild on 1800 497 121.

Other assistance and contacts

Telstra Disaster Relief: For eligible individuals and business, free data, long term assistance and payment relief assistance is available. More information can be found here Telstra - Disaster Relief or by calling 1800 888 888.

Banks: Some banks are also offering emergency financial assistance including disaster packages. To find out more contact your banking institution.

Rural Financial Counselling Service (Gympie): phone 0428 755 708 or online www.rfcssq.org.au

Farm and Rural Legal Service, Legal Aid: phone 1300 65 11 88

If you come across livestock that you suspect is missing from a property, or deceased livestock, there are a number of things you need to consider.

Livestock such as cattle have tags, that are usually in their right ear. NLIS tags will start with the Letter Q and be 16 digits – eg – QABC1234XBA12345 – they may have microchips. These numbers will start as 934 or 982 and also have 16 digits.

If you do find deceased or missing stock please contact council on 1300 307 800 or the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries www.daf.qld.gov.au

A range of community, recreation and sporting facilities have been impacted by the floods. These facilities are undergoing clean-up and repair by either council or the community groups managing these facilities. Please be patient as these groups get back on track.

If you are part of a community or sporting organisation that has been impacted by the floods, please contact Council’s Community Development Team on phone 1300 307 800 or email community@gympie.qld.gov so that we can assist your management committee in accessing relevant funding support.

Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan and Disaster Assistance Loans for Non-Profit Organisations

Concessional loans are provided to assist you to re-establish the normal operations of your non-profit organisation including repair/replace of plant and equipment, premises and stock, and for essential working capital expenses such as wages, rent, and buying goods. Loan amount up to $100,000, loan term up to 10 years.

For more information and to apply go to www.qrida.qld.gov.au/non-profit-organisations

Gambling Community Benefit Fund

$100,000 disaster recovery round for not-for-profit applicants affected by natural disasters and $35,000 available for all other applications—closes 15 July.

For more information and to apply go to www.justice.qld.gov.au/initiatives/community-grants

Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program

Supports not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations with funding to re-establish their facilities and activities after extreme natural events, including floods.

Funding of up to $20,000 may be available for eligible sport and active recreation organisations.

For more information and to apply go to www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery

Extraordinary Disaster Assistance Recovery Grants (Non-profit organisations)

for SEQ rainfall and flooding and Ex- cyclone Seth.

Assists directly impacted non-profit organisations with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of their activities. $50,000 maximum grant amount.

For more information and to apply go to www.qrida.qld.gov.au/non-profit-organisations

RACQ Foundation

Assists community groups affected by natural disaster and through its Community Grants program. Grants are available for groups impacted by the January and February 2022 Floods.

For more information, go to www.racq.com.au/about-us/community/racq-foundation

For updated information regarding current emergency news and road conditions within the Gympie region, please visit the Disaster Dashboard.

Council are no longer providing kerbside collection.

The following options are still available if residents need assistance removing flood debris:

• Speak with your insurer
• Apply for grants to assist with removing items by contacting the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit Gympie Community Place at 18 Excelsior Road, Gympie between the hours of 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday.

The Gympie Region Community Services Directory provides a collection of resources available to the community in times of need:

• Gympie Region Community Services Directory – Gympie Regional Council

Flood resources:

• Flood | Emergency services and safety | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
• Flood assistance and recovery | Emergency services and safety | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

For further disaster preparedness advice visit: Get Ready Queensland:

• Flood risk checklist | Emergency services and safety | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)

For more information on understanding your flood risk, Get Ready Queensland has a great video:

• Educational videos: Understand your flood risk | Queensland Reconstruction Authority (qra.qld.gov.au)

You can find further information via the Get Ready Queensland website:

• Flood | Get Ready Queensland