Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Assistance – Community Organisations

This section provides guidance on preparing for a disaster and support to your community if it has been impacted by a disaster.

Preparedness

Community preparedness is the ability to plan, survive, and recover from emergencies. It involves educating and providing resources to community members, along with programs to strengthen community resilience.

Resources

Australian Disaster Resilience Knowledge Hub

This website shares information about national and jurisdictional emergency planning tools in Australia for households, businesses, local governments and schools.

Community Engagement for Disaster Resilience Handbook

The handbook presents nationally agreed principles of community engagement for disaster resilience and provides high-level guidance to support those who engage with communities at all phases of disaster.

Australian Red Cross

Preparing for emergencies

This webpage provides a series of resources, extensive information, and a quiz where you can test your disaster preparedness.

Supporting your community

This Introduction to Psychosocial Support Community Toolkit provides guidance for community groups and organisations who are supporting their communities to learn about the psychosocial impacts of crises and how to provide good support to one another. The toolkit is available in a number of different languages.

Legal Aid Western Australia

An information sheet for people who have debts or who are having trouble with money because of the effects of natural disasters in Western Australia such as bushfires or floods.

An information sheet for people whose property was damaged or destroyed or who were buying or selling property which has been affected by natural disasters such as bushfires or catastrophic storms or floods in Western Australia.

An information sheet for residential and commercial tenants and lessors in Western Australia whose property has been damaged by natural disasters such as bushfires or severe storm related floods.

A simple information sheet explaining the type of support Legal Aid Western Australia can offer and how to get in touch.

An information sheet for people with insurance queries who have been affected by bushfires in Western Australia.

A information sheet outlining the help available from Legal Aid Western Australia and other organisations if you have been impacted by a bushfire and need legal assistance.

The Salvation Army

Access to an eBook all about 'planning for the unplanned' is available on this webpage. The free eBook, Moneycare - Planning for the Unplanned - Are you financially ready for a natural disaster? contains tips, practical strategies and hopeful stories to help with your financial wellbeing, whether you’re looking to get prepared before disaster hits — or are still on the road to recovery. Additional information and resources can also be found.

Debt Support

Banks and telecommunications providers offer debt support to help the community manage financial difficulties during challenging times.

Banks

ANZ

1800 149 549 (within Australia)
Disaster relief and support

Information to help customers and communities get back on their feet after experiencing a natural disaster.

Australian Banking Association

Information, guides and contact details for banks for people in financial difficulty.

Commonwealth Bank

Indigenous Customer Assistance Line (ICAL)
1800 700 682
Monday to Friday 9am till 7pm AEST and Saturday 10am till 2pm AEST.

Alternatively, you can email ical@cba.com.au with (Natural Disaster) as the subject line as these will take priority.

National Australia Bank

1300 661 114 (within Australia)
NAB Assist Team – Monday to Friday 8:00am – 8:00pm (AEST), Saturday 9:00am – 1:00pm (AEST)

Disaster relief and support

Information and support options for customers impacted by natural disasters.

P&N Bank

1300 591 276
Financial Hardship Team – Monday to Friday 8:30am – 5:00pm AWST

Disaster relief and support 

Information for customers facing financial hardship.

Westpac Bank

1800 067 497 (within Australia)
Westpac Assist Team – Monday to Friday 8:30am – 7:30pm (AEST), Saturday 9:30am – 6:00pm (AEST)

Disaster relief and support

Information about disaster support and hardship assistance for Westpac customers.

Telcos

Telstra

How to prepare and stay connected during natural disaster

Information providing tips for preparing for a natural disaster.

What Telstra is doing to support individuals and communities during disasters

Information about how Telstra is helping to support the community before, during and after a natural disaster.

 

Other

Ask Izzy

Ask Izzy is a website that connects people in need with housing, a meal, money help, family violence support, counselling and much more. It is free and anonymous, with thousands of services listed across Australia.

If you use Telstra or Vodafone mobile networks, you can access Ask Izzy on your phone even if you don’t have credit or access to WIFI.

Grant Payment Relief

Grants or relief payments provide financial assistance to individuals and families facing hardship due to unforeseen events or emergencies.

Western Australia

Department of Communities

Government of Western Australia

1800 032 965

WA State Government assistance may be available to you. For further information, contact the Disaster Response Hotline.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services

Government of Western Australia

Emergency WA

Recovery advice including current recovery assistance and hazard recovery information.

Foodbank

1800 979 777
9:30am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday (closed on public holidays).

If you need food support call the Emergency Relief and Food Access Service.

Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund

Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund

Provides financial assistance to individuals in Western Australia experiencing hardship due to disasters or emergencies declared by the government or deemed eligible by the Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund Board.

National

Department of Home Affairs – Disaster Assist

Australian Government

Department of Home Affairs – Disaster Assist

This website provides information on payments and allowances you may be able to apply for if you are involved in an event that is declared a disaster. There is also a useful communication factsheet.

Services Australia

Australian Government

Natural Disaster Support

Federal assistance is available for people directly affected by a natural disaster event such as a fire, storms or floods in disaster declared areas. This website provides comprehensive, up-to-date information on natural disaster events.

Support Services

The following support services can provide assistance if you have been impacted by a disaster.

Legal Services

Financial Rights Legal Centre

Financial Rights Legal Centre

A specialist legal centre providing advice for anyone in financial distress. There is specific information for those impacted by a severe weather event and specialised support in:

• home building and or contents insurance (including natural disasters)
• consumer credit insurance
• life insurance
• funeral insurance
• pet insurance
• income protection insurance
• superannuation related insurance
• travel insurance
• motor vehicle insurance
• debts to insurance companies in relation to motor vehicle accidents.

Financial Rights Legal Centre

Financial Rights Legal Centre

A specialist legal centre providing advice for anyone in financial distress. There is specific information for those impacted by a severe weather event and specialised support in:

  • home building and or contents insurance (including natural disasters)
  • consumer credit insurance
  • life insurance
  • funeral insurance
  • pet insurance
  • income protection insurance
  • superannuation related insurance
  • travel insurance
  • motor vehicle insurancedebts to insurance companies in relation to motor vehicle accidents.