Service Description Available to Timing Contact details. The case coordinator is in place until June 2013.

Transcription

1 Recovery case coordinators A case coordinator is available in Wellington Shire to support the personal recovery of people and communities affected by the June 2012 Gippsland floods. Everyone The case coordinator is in place until June Contact your local council The program works to help people in their recovery by strengthening people s connections with family and friends and helping them access and engage with support services such as counsellors and financial counsellors. They are also involved in community development in flood-affected communities by working with community groups and local councils to develop activities and events, encouraging floodaffected people to participate. Relief and Recovery Centres Relief Centres usually provide somewhere to seek emergency shelter and information. Recovery Centres usually provide somewhere to seek information. Both types of centres are opened and closed as needed so it is crucial to check the website for current information. Everyone, particularly people immediately affected and potentially affected As needed -support/flood-recovery-centres Department of Human Services Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP) Emergency Relief Assistance Individuals and households may be eligible for Emergency Relief Assistance if they have suffered (or are likely to suffer) hardship in providing for their shelter, food, clothing, personal items or specific transport needs all as a result of an emergency. Residents affected by the June 2012 storms and flooding in Gippsland Emergency relief assistance has now closed for this event. OPTION 1 Callers seeking information about possible financial assistance under the DHS administered PHAP (Personal Hardship Assistance Program) should be warm transferred to their local council s Recovery Page 26 of 30

2 The provision of Emergency Relief Assistance is based on a needs assessment. Team (during business hours Monday - Friday). There are six local councils largely affected by the current floods: Latrobe City Council ( ) Wellington ( ) Shire ( ) Bass Coast Shire ( ) South Gippsland Shire ( ) Baw Baw Shire on ( ) OPTION 2 Callers who specifically inquire about PHAP assistance and wish to either speak to, or make an appointment with, a DHS grants officer, should be warm transferred through to: DHS Traralgon office (business hours Monday Friday) crisis-andemergency/ financial-crisissupport/ personal-hardship-assistanceprogram Department of Human Services Personal Hardship Assistance Program (PHAP) Emergency Re-Establishment Assistance If the person is unable to physically visit a relief or recovery centre because they are isolated, they should call the VicSES on Residents affected by the June 2012 storms and flooding in Gippsland Re-establishment assistance closed on 31 December OPTION 1 Callers seeking information about possible financial assistance under the DHS administered PHAP Page 27 of 30

3 The Personal Hardship Assistance program provides financial assistance to alleviate the personal hardship and distress suffered by eligible Victorians, as a result of an emergency. There are two categories of assistance: Emergency Relief Assistance Emergency Re-establishment Assistance. This assistance is not intended to replace insurance or other compensation for loss for assistance. A household s eligibility for assistance depends on whether the principle place of residence has been destroyed, rendered uninhabitable (unfit to live in) or made inaccessible for more than seven days all as a result of an eligible natural emergency event. To be eligible for assistance payments, applicants must meet income tests, with income limits based on: gross weekly family income for PAYE taxpayers or gross weekly income, minus gross weekly expenditure, for the selfemployed. Eligibility is established only where losses are not being met by insurance, compensation or some other assistance. (Personal Hardship Assistance Program) should be warm transferred to their local council s Recovery Team (during business hours Monday - Friday). There are six local councils largely affected by the current floods: Latrobe City Council ( ) Wellington ( ) Shire ( ) Bass Coast Shire ( ) South Gippsland Shire ( ) Baw Baw Shire on ( ) OPTION 2 Callers who specifically inquire about PHAP assistance and wish to either speak to, or make an appointment with, a DHS grants officer, should be warm transferred through to: DHS Traralgon office (business hours Monday Friday) crisis-andemergency/ financial-crisissupport/ personal-hardship-assistanceprogram Page 28 of 30

4 Concessional loans from Rural Finance Rural Finance is offering low interest concessional loans of up to $200,000 to eligible primary producers, small businesses and not-for-profit organisations in 20 Local Government Areas whose properties suffered direct damage as a result of floods between late February and early March For the following 17 LGAs: Alpine Baw Baw Bass Coast Cardinia Colac Otway Golden Plains Greater Geelong Hume Latrobe Mansfield Mornington Peninsula South Gippsland Surf Coast Towong Wellington Yarra Ranges Applications for concessional loans closed on 31 December Contact Rural Finance s Bendigo office on Fact sheets on the grants and loans can be found at: ault.aspx?pageid=152&id=1 Application Forms for grants and low interest loans are now available from the Rural Finance website or directly from Rural Finance offices. Personal support Psychosocial and community support as a referral system. People in the local government area of Wellington Refer caller to their local DHS Office (Gippsland region). Local government flood recovery support Community engagement, business recovery, and community development is being offered through local government officers in the areas of: Wellington Everyone in local government areas of: Wellington Contact your local Council Page 29 of 30

5 Housing support Interim housing is available for eligible householders Public housing clients Contact Business support Business Flood Recovery Fund assistance is available. All businesses in Gippsland LGAs Information is yet to be uploaded. Take callers details and to (will be referred to DPCD) Flood support for catchment management authorities Funding is available to assist CMAs to: improve environmental condition of waterways increase support for regional development, economies and tourism Catchment Management Authorities in Gippsland Information is yet to be uploaded. Take callers details and to (will be referred to DPCD) supporting employment opportunities in affected areas Page 30 of 30