Thriving Communities Partnership work with organisations across Australia and not directly with customers. If you personally require support from any of the services below, please contact them directly. 

If your organisation has developed a disaster response that you would like to include on this page please send details through to contact@thriving.org.au

Last updated 16 November 

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) insights
- Neighbourhood Centres insights

For immediate help or life-threatening situations: Call 000. For help with damage: Call the State Emergency Service on 132 500. For government assistance: Visit https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/ for available support. For mental health enquiries or people in crisis: Call Lifeline on 13 11 14. For insurance claims: Call the Insurance Council of Australia on 1800 734 621.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT - Information on financial support for people affected by the South Eastern Australia floods can be found here.

RED CROSS - In times of crisis, a fast response from trained teams makes all the difference. Red Cross emergency response staff and volunteers are on the ground in evacuation and relief centres, providing vital humanitarian support to people affected by the recent floods. This includes providing psychosocial support and comfort to people feeling distressed, connecting people to support services, and registering people through our reunification service so their loved ones know they’re safe. Donate here. 

FOODBANK - Foodbank are urgently packing emergency crisis hampers and working with charity partners to help flood affected areas in a safe manner by providing food, water and other essential supplies. If you are in a position to make a financial donation, you can do so here.  

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Financial Counselling, financial capability, and community finance insights
- Community legal services insights
- Ombudsmen insights

LEGAL AID NSW DISASTER RESPONSE LEGAL SERVICE (DRLS) - The DRLS provides free legal help for disaster affected community members in NSW with legal issues like:

• Insurance claims and disputes
• Housing and rental problems including caravan parks
• Credit, debt, fines and financial hardship
• Eligibility for disaster relief grants and benefits
• Employment - unfair dismissals, entitlements
• Domestic violence
• Other legal problems related to disasters

Anyone affected by a disaster can get free help by contacting the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW helpline on 1800 801 529 (9am to 5pm weekdays).
Visit the DRLS website https://disasterhelp.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/ for fact sheets and information.
You cna also often find DRLS at Flood Recovery Centres where they provide face to face help, or contact your local Legal Aid Regional office.

MID NORTH COAST LEGAL CENTRE - They offer free assistance to people in NSW with civil law issues. 
If you have been impacted by flood or disaster and need legal advice about any of the following issues, they may be able to help with: Insurance, Debts, Employment law and other civil law legal questions.

ENERGY AND WATER OMBUDSMAN NSW (EWON) - EWON provides free, fair and independent dispute resolution services to customers experiencing issues with their energy or water. They are currently prioritising enquiries and complaints related to the NSW floods and have created a website listing all available government and community agency support for flood-affected customers and small businesses in NSW.

ENERGY AND WATER OMBUDSMAN VIC (EWOV) - EWOV is a free and independent service that resolves disputes between Victorians and their energy and water companies. 

NATIONAL DEBT HELPLINE - A not-for-profit financial counselling service that helps people tackle their debt problems. It is a free, independent and confidential service. Call 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial counsellor. Read more here.

MONEYCARE - Moneycare has specialist funding for disaster response to provide financial counselling services to support community members impacted by floods and other disasters. Call 1800 722 363 to make an appointment. 

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Banking insights

ABA - The Australian Banking Association has provided a press release outlining possible assistances available to people affected by the recent floods. Read More

ANZ - A Natural disaster support package is available for customers impacted by the floods in Northern NSW to get back on top of things. Customers can contact their ANZ Relationship Manager, or call the ANZ dedicated hotline on 1800 149 549. 

CBA - In response to the flooding in Australia’s east, CommBank have activated Emergency Assistance to assist impacted customers and businesses in New South Wales. Emergency Assistance offers support to customers affected. CBA understand that each customer will have different needs and encourage those affected to discuss their individual circumstances with them. 

NAB - NAB has announced $1,000 grants for customers impacted by flooding in officially declared disaster areas of Victoria, NSW, Tasmania and South Australia - NAB customers can apply at nab.com.au/common/forms/disastergrant.
Update: These emergency grants are now available to customers impacted by flooding in Western Australia and Northern Territory.

NAB Assist also stands ready to support customers re the above and other support available (loan deferral, reduced repayment arrangements, deferring credit card payments etc). Learn more

WESTPAC - Westpac's Emergency financial assistance is available to customers, communities and employees affected by the recent floods, learn more about the disaster relief here.

ASIC - ASIC’s Moneysmart provides financial guidance and support to Australians affected by natural disasters. Information is available on crisis support, accessing financial hardship from a bank or lender, managing the insurance claims process, how to spot a scam, and support for small businesses, on the Moneysmart website and the What to do after a natural disaster factsheet.

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Carers and support organisation insights
- Mental health services insights

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Insurance insights

IAG - Customers are encouraged to make contact as soon as possible if they need to lodge a claim, access emergency accommodation or request technical property assistance with a verified building specialist. Read More

SUNCORP - Providing assistance to insurance and banking customers. Read More

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Utilities and Telecommunication insights

TELSTRA - Telstra has activated a range of flood disaster relief packages for people in VIC, NSW and TAS who have suffered severe damage or loss of their homes and businesses, providing access to free and interim services to mitigate short-term impacts caused by damaging weather. Read More here. All Telstra payphones are also currently free for calls around Australia. Call 1800 888 888, enter your phone or mobile number, and talk to Telstra teams to find out how they can help.

TRANSURBAN - Customers impacted by floods in NSW and VIC are encouraged to call the Linkt Assist team on 13 33 31. Support may be available for more time to pay for toll road travel, payment plans, advising state enforcement groups and other toll road operators of your situation (with your consent), toll credit support* (for active Linkt accounts only). Read More *Toll credit support is available for customers to cover the cost of essential toll road travel, where taking a free alternative route isn’t reasonably possible.

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Utilities and Telecommunication insights

AGL - AGL has an information page on what to do when you experience a power outage, as well as payment support options available on their website.

AUSGRID - Ausgrid provides flood safety information. If your premises have been affected by flooding, you may be eligible for a waiver of your electrical connection fees and associated charges.

ENDEAVOUR ENERGY - Endeavour Energy is providing flood safety information in response to the recent floods in VIC, NSW and TAS.

ESSENTIAL ENERGY - Click the following links for further assistance with; Power Outages, Reconnecting to our network after flooding, and Flood Safety.

ENERGY AUSTRALIA - Energy Australia is offering assistance programs to residential and business customers. Their EnergyAssist hardship program helps residential customers in financial stress through flexible ways including payment extensions, payment plans and advice. Find out more here.

MASTER ELECTRICIANS AUSTRALIA - Master Electricians Australia (MEA) is compiling safety tools and support information to assist impacted Consumers and Electrical Contractors working in flood affected areas. This page will be updated regularly. Find out more on MEA's 2022 Flood Crisis Assistance page, and stay up to date with the latest information on their news page.

MOMENTUM ENERGY – For Momentum Energy customers who've been impacted by floods, the last thing you should be concerned about right now is your energy account. So please be reassured that we have financial support available for energy bills. Call 1300 662 778 (8am-7pm, weekdays) to speak to someone about how Momentum can help, or learn more about Momentum Energy's flood support here.

ORIGIN - For the latest VIC floods, outage updates and how Origin can help, visit their Emergencies Page.

SYDNEY WATER - Sydney Water can offer a range of financial assistance including flexible payment options, emergency relief, long-term support and referrals to other support services. Any customer, residential or business, experiencing payment difficulties should contact Sydney Water on 13 20 92 weekdays from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm or visit their website to see all assistance options.

SIMPLY ENERGY - Customers will find information for payment options, extended invoice periods and financial assistance on the Diaster Flood Relief page. Please call 13 88 08 for further assistance.

WATER NSW -  Affordability/hardship support is available to customers impacted by the floods in NSW. Contact 1300 662 077 

TCP DISASTER PLANNING AND RECOVERY RESEARCH INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
- Local and National not for profit organisation insights
- Small business services insights

ASK IZZY - A directory of community and social services across Australia. We are currently focussing our efforts to update services in the flood impacted areas to ensure that we have the most accurate and up to date service information available, including relief and emergency services. Read More 

GOVERNMENT MONEYSMART - Dealing with natural disasters. Read More