Extra Funding for NFPs Providing Disaster Relief

The Gillard Government will provide an additional $1 million to assist Not for Profit organisations helping flood-affected Queenslanders.

The Parliamentary Secretary for Community Services, Julie Collins, announced the $1.03 million additional funding, which will go to existing Emergency Relief services in affected areas.

The funds will help 82 community organisations provide food, clothing, household items and financial support to families and individual coping with the disaster.

Julie Collins says it is crucial that families and individuals continue to have access to community services and this funding will assist as people start to rebuild their lives.

She says Emergency Relief funds help community organisations provide people in need with vouchers for essential items such as food, transport or chemist supplies, help people find accommodation, and can provide part-payment of utility bills and referrals to other services.

She says the funding is in addition to more than $375 million in Commonwealth disaster assistance that has been provided through Centrelink to people affected by the floods crisis.

She says this assistance is the first stage of billions of dollars the Commonwealth Government will provide to help rebuild Queensland.

Collins thanked community service providers and the thousands of volunteers who have supported individuals and families living in flood-affected areas.

The Emergency Relief funding will be spread across flood-affected areas of Queensland including Brisbane, Darling Downs, Fitzroy, Mackay, South West Queensland, Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay-Burnett, Goodna, Riverview and the Ipswich region.
More information about Commonwealth assistance for people impacted by flooding is available by visiting www.disasterassist.gov.au.