Skip to main content

Updated 7th September 2023

This page provides information about key supports and services for individuals and communities impacted by recent NSW Floods.

Please note that NCOSS is a peak body and cannot directly provide people with assistance for flood relief. For emergency help in a flood, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.


EvacuationLegal assistance
Financial Support - for peopleMental health support
Financial Support - for organisationsMobiles & utilities
Flood Health & SafetyPets & livestock
Food & clothingReplacing damaged documents
HousingSupport for Community
InsuranceSupport for Organisations

Evacuation

  • For latest evacuation warnings and information, visit the NSW State Emergency Service website, or call 132 500.
  • The NSW State Emergency Service has prepared factsheets on what to do when an Evacuation Warning is issued and when an Evacuation Order is issued.
  • Red Cross Register.Find.Reunite: If you’ve been displaced from your home due to flooding, it’s important to register your details so your friends and family know you’re safe. The Register.Find.Reunite website is a national system used to find and reunite loved ones after an emergency.

Financial support - for people

  • NSW Government offers a range of grants and payments for people affected by the floods. Click here for guidance.
  • Service NSW provides an overview of financial assistance  available to people impacted by the floods, and a Disaster Assistance Finder  to help people find the assistance they are eligible for. Call Service NSW 13 77 88, 7am - 7pm, Monday to Friday and 9am - 5pm on weekends and public holidays.
  • Storm and flood customer care service  is Service NSW's landing page for updates on various assistance available for people and businesses affected by severe storms and floods.
  • Dedicated community recovery centres  provide face-to-face support for NSW residents affected by natural disasters. Service NSW  lists current centres and opening times.
  • Services Australia offers a one-off Crisis Payment for those already receiving payments from Centrelink. It is half of your fortnightly payment. There is also a Crisis Payment for Other Extreme Circumstances.
  • Services Australia also offers payments and help for people directly affected by bushfires, floods or other natural disasters.
  • Flood Recovery Back Home Grant: This financial assistance can help cover the costs of restoring a flood damaged property to a habitable condition or replacing essential household items. The Flood Recovery Back Home Grant provides owner-occupiers up to $20,000, tenants up to $5,000 and owner-investors up to $15,000.
  • NSW Government Disaster Relief Grants  are available for eligible individuals and families whose homes and essential household contents have been damaged or destroyed by a natural disaster and are uninsured. Call Service NSW on 13 77 88 and ask about the Disaster Relief Grant administered by Resilience NSW.
  • Families receiving a Child Care Subsidy may be eligible for an Additional Child Care Subsidy  due to temporary financial hardship.
  • The Australian Taxation Office  will assist people affected by floods, for example by deferring tax lodgement or debt payment, helping with lost tax file numbers or records, or remitting any penalties or interest during the time you have been affected. Call the ATO Emergency Support Infoline on 1800 806 218 for assistance.
  • The Australian Banking Association has a list of member banks providing customers with emergency assistance for floods.
  • The National Debt Helpline  provides free assistance to those in financial difficulty as a result of the flood crisis. Call 1800 007 007, 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
  • Revenue NSW  assists people impacted by the floods by placing a hold on all fines, debt, and Work and Development Orders, extending payment deadlines and lifting driving sanctions. Call 1300 138 118.

Financial support - for organisations

  • Find a government initiative, grant or funding program to help support your business, project or your community here
  • NSW Government offers grants, loans, and financial assistance to businesses affected by the flood. Click here for guidance.
  • The Medium Business Support Grant is for medium business or a not-for-profit organisation (minimum of 21 and less than 200 full-time equivalent employees) and you've experienced direct damage as a result of storms and floods commencing 4 August and 14 September 2022 onwards in certain Western and South Western LGAs. Apply online at Service NSW or call 13 77 88.
  • Disaster recovery small business grant: If you’re a small business or a not-for-profit organisation in a defined disaster area and have been impacted by storms and floods, you may be eligible for a storm and flood disaster recovery grant to help pay for the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of a small business or not-for-profit organisation’s operations. Apply online at Service NSW or call 13 77 88.
  • $1,000 SafeWork small business rebate: The $1,000 rebate is available to small businesses and not-for-profits with fewer than 50 full-time employees. The SafeWork small business rebate helps organisations purchase items to help clean up or improve work health and safety.
  • Childcare services at risk of closure in flood-impacted areas may be eligible for a Community Child Care Fund Special Circumstances Grant Opportunity  to help their service stay open.
  • The Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal regularly offer grants to support regional community programs and initiatives.

Housing

  • Flood Property Assessment Program: Free structural assessments are available for damaged buildings in eligible LGAs damaged by flooding in February and June 2022. This is an opt-in program that provides a detailed assessment report, including a comprehensive scope of repair works and estimated repair costs.
  • Rebuilding and repairing your property: Some low impact works can be carried out in disaster areas without the need for development approval – visit the temporary rebuilding works page to find out more.
  • Resilient Homes Program: Financial assistance is available to homeowners to improve the flood-resilience of residential properties in the Northern Rivers. Eligible homeowners may be offered assistance for home buyback, home raising or home retrofit.
  • Emergency or temporary accommodation after a flood: Accommodation support is available to people affected by floods. This includes emergency accommodation or long-term temporary accommodation in housing pods, caravan parks and campgrounds. If you need urgent accommodation or need to register for temporary housing in flood-affected regions of NSW, call Service NSW.
  • Renters have rights if their home is damaged by disaster. The Tenants Union have advice on disaster damage for renters. Enter your postcode here to find your local Tenants’ Advice & Advocacy Service. Or contact the Tenants Advice Line: 1800 251 101, on Mondays 10am-1pm and Thursdays 2-5pm.
  • NSW Fair Trading has prepared information on tenancy rights during flood.

Flood health and safety information

Pets and livestock

  • The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services assist landholders and communities with animal welfare-related issues, including veterinary assistance, emergency fodder and stock water, stock euthanasia and burial, and care of animals in evacuation centres. Contact the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647 (operating weekdays, 9.00am and 5.00pm).
  • Contact RSPCA for assistance with pets, livestock (including horses), and wildlife on 1300 278 358.

Replacing damaged documents (licences, permits, certificates)

Food & clothing

  • GIVIT is managing offers of donated goods, services, volunteering and funds, including corporate offers in response to the Queensland and New South Wales flooding. Organisations can register with GIVIT to distribute donations in their area.
  • Good360 is a matchmaker, connecting brand-new goods donated by businesses to people and communities who need them the most. Organisations can register with Good360 to distribute donations in their area.

Mobiles and utilities

Insurance

Legal assistance

  • The Legal Aid NSW Disaster Response Legal Service (DRLS) has a disaster response service that can help people impacted by floods with legal problems including insurance claims and disputes, financial hardship, tenancy and Centrelink. Call 1800 801 529, 9am-5pm Monday to Friday.
  • Community Legal Centres can help people impacted by floods with insurance claims, tenancy, Centrelink, lost documents and financial hardship.
  • Justice Connect an provide free legal advice and ongoing representation to eligible small businesses, farms and primary producers affected by natural disasters like floods and bushfires.

Mental health support

  • Emotional and trauma support: Learn about available support and how to look after your own and your loved ones' wellbeing after a disaster. A range of 24/7 mental health services and professional help is available from the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511. People can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
  • The NSW Government Free training and coaching provides links to free, easy-to-do programs you can use to support mental health in your workplace.
  • The NSW Rural Adversity Mental Health Program  links people to appropriate mental health support in their area. Local RAMHP Coordinators are working to identify and link people in need of extra support.
  • The NSW Mental Health Line provides links to mental health services on 1800 011 511.
  • Lifeline 13 11 14, is available to listen and support 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Phone, SMS and online chat is available.
  • Beyond Blue has developed an online resource on looking after your mental health after a disaster.
  • Australian Red Cross provides resources on looking after yourself after a disaster.
  • Headspace provides information for family and friends supporting young people affected by a natural disaster.
  • Emerging Minds provides resources and advice on supporting children’s mental health during disaster and traumatic events.

Support for Community

  • Local community services and organisations are at the forefront of the flood response and recovery. Ask at your local Recovery Centre or community hub, or search using Infoxchange Service Seeker or Ask Izzy to find out what local services are doing in your area.
  • My Community Directory provides online health and community information for locations throughout NSW
  • Disaster Recovery Volunteering. Pre-register your interest in volunteering for disaster recovery organisations with The Centre for Volunteering.

Support for Organisations