Red Cross flood appeal update

Australian Red Cross has distributed funds to more than 30,000 people affected by floods in south east Queensland and northern New South Wales (as of 9am Monday 18 April).

This represents:

• 33,939 financial assistance grants of $500 to households to help with basic needs for people whose primary place of residence was affected by the floods and who are experiencing financial hardship as a result.
• 21 bereavement grants of $20,000 to senior next-of-kin of people who died as a direct result of the floods, to help with funeral and related expenses.

Red Cross Acting Director of Australian Programs Garry Page said all grants were going to people in Federal Government designated disaster areas.

“We have distributed $17.4 million so far. With thousands of applications yet to be processed, we are approaching the point at which funds available will be fully subscribed. When this occurs, we will stop accepting new applications so we don’t have people applying for grants that aren’t available,” he said.

“These grants are a result of extraordinary support for our March telethon hosted by broadcasters Nine, Seven and Ten, which raised more than $26 million. This financial assistance is a gift from the Australian people, and 100 per cent of the funds raised from the Telethon will go on cash grants.”

Mr Page said a team of 60 people had been processing tens of thousands of grant applications, working seven days a week, including over Easter, to process grants as quickly as possible.

About 50,000 applications are still being processed, although some will not be eligible due to being duplicates, incomplete, from areas that are not disaster-declared, or for other reasons.

“Our message to people affected by the floods is to apply as soon as you can. Applications will be processed in the order they are submitted,” Mr Page said.

“If you have already applied, then there's no need to do anything unless you are asked for more information. Applications with all the required documentation are being processed faster. Assessing duplicate and incomplete applications is a longer process.

“This cash assistance is one part of our broader recovery support, and we will continue to assist communities in the months and years to come.

“Red Cross thanks networks Nine, Seven and Ten and each and every person and organisation who donated to the telethon or to our appeal. Donations have provided financial support for tens of thousands of people who really need help at a very challenging time in their lives.”

Up-to-date information on grant allocations is available at the Cash Assistance dashboard at www.redcross.org.au/cashassistance.

Media: media@redcross.org.au, 1800 733 443.