Assistance for flood affected small businesses in SE Queensland

Your business may be eligible for financial assistance under the joint Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) administered by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA):

• extraordinary disaster assistance recovery grants of up to $50,000
• disaster assistance (essential working capital) loans of up to $100,000
• disaster assistance loans of up to $250,000.

Affected businesses should complete the business impact survey located here.

You and your employees may be eligible for a short-term payment if your income has been affected by a disaster. Visit the Australian Government Department of Human Services for Disaster Recovery Allowance eligibility criteria.

BizRebuild (Business Council of Australia) provides practical assistance and vouchers to small business affected by the floods. Vouchers available are a $2,000 (inc GST) Retooling Voucher and a $500 (incl GST) Business Advisory Voucher. To apply for the vouchers, businesses can register their interest and complete an online application at https://bca.awardsplatform.com/

Industry specific assistance

• Primary Producers have access to DRFA financial assistance, such as freight subsidies and concessional loans. Producers can also access recovery grants of up to $75,000 to help with clean-up and repairs. These grants are available through QRIDA.

If you are unsure if you are in an activated area please contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or QRIDA on 1800 623 946 or visit the QRIDA website.

• Racing Queensland will oversee the distribution of the Training Assistance Fund to support racing participants in flood-impacted areas of South East Queensland. More information on how to apply, including the assessment criteria is available at: https://www.racingqueensland.com.au/training-assistance-fund
• Sports clubs – Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program supports not-for-profit sport and recreation organisations with funding to re-establish their facilities and activities after extreme natural events, including floods, fire, cyclones and severe storms.
• Queensland Not-for-profit organisations impacted during disaster events may be eligible for low interest loans and grants to help them recover. For more information, please visit QRIDA.

Other contacts and resources available

• 2022 flood disaster help for Queenslanders. Please visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/alerts
• Small Business Disaster Hub (also available as a free app via Apple or Google) contains resources to help businesses respond and recover following a natural disaster.  Useful topics include:
  • What your business should do after a natural disaster — covers help with insurance and tips for cleaning up.
  • Rebuilding your business after a natural disaster — covers re-establishing your premises and business records, assessing your finances, managing and paying staff, communicating with key people, planning for the future and a natural disaster checklist.
• Mentoring for Recovery (M4G program) – www.business.qld.gov.au/mentoring-growth
• CCIQ Export & HR Helpline provides support to help affected businesses manage staff and impacts to exports.  Call CCIQ’s helpline on 1300 731 988.
• Small Business Financial Counselling Service (SBFCS) in Southern Queensland provides free, impartial and confidential planning and support services. For more information, please visit: https://www.rfcssq.org.au/small-business-assistance/
• Natural Disaster Legal Help (Legal Aid Queensland) – 1300 527 700 ​​​​​​​​​​​​
• ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The Office of the Queensland Small Business Commissioner (QSBC) provides information, assistance and advocacy support to Queensland small businesses. The QSBC has developed a Small business help and support guide which includes assistance provided by not-for-profit organisations and governments at all levels. For more information please visit www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-assistance/qsbc/resources  
• ​​​Fair Work Australia provides information about employment entitlements during natural disasters or emergencies.  If businesses have to close temporarily after a natural disaster they may be able to change employment arrangements, including standing down staff without pay.  Businesses can phone the Fair Work Ombudsman on 13 13 94 for specific information for their circumstances or visit fairwork.gov.au​​​​​​​ ​​​​​​​

• Australian Banking Association of Australia lists emergency assistance and hardship support numbers for all major and most smaller banks. Most banks provide emergency assistance to existing customers in the form of waiving fees, deferring payments, temporary overdrafts and low interest loans.
• ​​​​​​​The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has a range of flood support options and an Emergency support line (1800 806 218).  
• The Insurance Council of Australia has released information to help guide affected businesses, including what to do if your property has been impacted by flooding and storms. Please visit: https://insurancecouncil.com.au/resource/east-coast-flood-event-insurance-update-1-march/ 
• Recognise scams and dodgy traders relating to natural disasters. For more information, please visit: https://www.qld.gov.au/law/laws-regulated-industries-and-accountability/queensland-laws-and-regulations/fair-trading-services-programs-and-resources/fair-trading-latest-news/disaster-assistance

Mental health and wellbeing support:  

• Mental health and wellbeing resources for businesses – www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/support/mental-health-resources  
• Queensland Mental Health Commission – www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/awareness-promotion/prevention/covid-19-and-mental-health
• NewAccess for Small Business Owners – www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/newaccess/newaccess-for-small-business-owners
• Contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 for phone and online counselling and support

Clean-up and recovery safety

• WorkSafe.qld.gov.au – www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/safety-and-prevention/hazards/workplace-hazards/dangers-in-your-workplace/storms-and-floods

Replacement of Queensland Government issued documents 

• Completion Certificates will be replaced free for flood affected areas – Email apprenticeshipsinfo@desbt.qld.gov.au or phone 1800 210 210.
• Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages will provide free replacement life event certificates – Replacing lost or destroyed documents | Community support | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au)
• Certificates, licence ID cards and association rules lost or destroyed in this natural disaster will be replaced free of charge by the Office of Fair Trading. Email Brisbaneoft@justice.qld.gov.au or phone 13 QGOV (13 74 68)
• The Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) is ready and available to assist flood-affected licensees to manage their regulatory requirements during the recovery period. Licensees are encouraged to review information and contact OLGR direct should they require further advice for their specific situation.
• Blue cards or exemption cards lost or destroyed in the floods will be replaced by Blue Card Services for free if people submit a  statutory declaration with the relevant form for lost/stolen cards. Phone: 1800 113 611 or visit Blue Card Services | Your rights, crime and the law | Queensland Government (www.qld.gov.au).

Personal and family assistance

• Personal Hardship Financial Assistance is available for Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gladstone, Gold Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Moreton Bay, Noosa, North Burnett, Redland City, Scenic Rim, Somerset and Sunshine Coast, and includes: 
  • Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants available as a contribution to support people directly impacted by a disaster to who are unable to meet their immediate essential needs for food, clothing, medical supplies or temporary accommodation. Eligible applicants may receive $180 per person up to $900 for a family of 5 or more. For more information, please contact the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 or visit www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies.
  • Essential Household Contents Grants of up to $1765 for single adults and up to $5,300 for couples/families are available. These grants are for those who are uninsured, or unable to claim insurance. If eligible you may receive financial assistance towards replacing or repairing essential household contents, such as beds, linen and white goods, that have been lost or damaged in a disaster.
  • Eligible people can also apply for the following commonwealth/state jointly funded financial assistance grants:
    • Essential Services Hardship Assistance Grant
    • Structural Assistance Grant
    • Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Grant
• Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a lump sum payment for eligible people adversely affected by the South East Queensland floods. 

Information to help you keep updated

• Follow Business Queensland on Facebook or check the Business Queensland website 
• Subscribe to the Small Business Connect newsletter – www.business.qld.gov.au/starting-business/advice-support/support/small-business/connect 
• Subscribe to News and updates from the Queensland Small Business Commissioner – www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-assistance/qsbc/news-updates