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
Australian Red Cross
This webpage provides a series of resources, extensive information, and a quiz where you can test your disaster preparedness.
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
Debt Support
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
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)
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
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)
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
Western Australia
Department of Communities
Government of Western Australia
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
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
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
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
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.
