Emergency Financial Support

There is a range of financial assistance available to individuals, families and businesses who are recovering from/experiencing the devastation of the 2022 floods in the Forbes local government area (LGA).

If you are experiencing hardship due to recent flooding events, you are encouraged to reach out to your financial institution, phone and energy providers to enquire about financial assistance and support packages available to you.

Please note - Council has made every effort to find as many as possible and will continue to add to this page. Residents should consider their individual circumstances and provide accurate information when making any applications for assistance.

Lions Club of Forbes and District - Financial Assistance

Lions Club of Forbes and District can assist with payments of up to $1,000.00 for whitegoods and household furniture (to Forbes or Parkes stores), or a reimbursement on the production of a reciept.

For more information, please contact Peter Bright (President) on forbes.nsw@lions.org.au or 0419 463 803.

NSW Recovery Authority - Pods on Private Property

The Pods on Private Property Program will provide temporary housing support to eligible residents who have had their homes severely impacted by the 2022 floods. Pods will be provided by the NSW Government at no cost. Properties will be assessed according to multiple eligibility criteria.

Applications are now open. If you are interested in applying for the program, contact housingtaskforce@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au.

For more information, please click here.

NSW Recovery Authority - At Home Caravan Program

At-home caravans are available to residents who are unable to live in their homes due to flood damage. Residents who lived in the area before the November 2022 flood are eligible for the program.The caravans are located on the resident’s private property, or can be located on a rental property with permission from the landlord. They can also be located on someone else’s private property (family and friends) with their permission. Properties are assessed to make sure they can safely accommodate a caravan.The caravans are provided at no cost under a hire agreement. You'll still need to pay your regular bills like water, electricity and sewage.

Residents can email caravans@resilience.nsw.gov.au for application forms and more information. 

For more information, please click here.  

Legal Aid NSW Disaster Response Service - Legal advice, issues with insurance claims and disputes

Legal Aid provides legal advice clinics and services at our office and regionally throughout the Central Tablelands and Central West.

Crime

Legal Aid Criminal lawyers provide duty and case services, attending the regional Courts. We encourage any person charged with a criminal offence to phone Orange Legal Aid office as soon as possible rather than wait to seek assistance at Court on the day.

Family

Legal Aid NSW’s Family Law solicitor can assist with a range of issues like:

  • Questions about family breakdown
  • Property settlements
  • Child access and custody issues

Civil

Legal Aid NSW’s Civil Law solicitors can assist with a range of issues like:

 

  • Financial hardship - credit card or other debts, fines
  • Consumer or contract issues – unfair contracts, insurance
  • Centrelink – pensions, debts, fraud prosecutions
  • Housing – evictions, tenancy, mortgage difficulties
  • Discrimination or harassment – in employment, education, housing
  • Complaints about government authorities - such as police, schools, government departments

Our focus is to seek to resolve issues as early as possible, trying to help clients avoid the need for litigation. Court representation is available in limited range of matters.

Work Development Order program: WDO’s are a voluntary option for vulnerable people to clear their fines debt through volunteer work, mental health/drug & alcohol treatment, counselling, educational courses or programs.  Any organisations interested in signing up to be a WDO sponsor can contact Orange Legal Aid office.

Law Access

The best way to find out if we can provide you with free legal advice or book an appointment is to speak to our team at LawAccess NSW. Anyone with a legal problem in NSW can obtain legal information and referrals by calling 1300 888 529 or through our chat on our website: Legal advice (nsw.gov.au).

The Disaster Response Legal Service (DRLS) is a specialist team within Legal Aid NSW that provides free legal help for disaster affected individuals in NSW with legal issues including:

  • Insurance claims and disputes

  • Our specialist disaster solicitors are on the ground actively providing services in the region. We regularly attend outreach in Eugowra. We are attending other locations in conjunction with community events and in collaboration with other services, such as the financial counsellors from Catholic Care. For details on upcoming outreach locations and dates near you, follow the Legal Aid NSW Instagram and Facebook page.


    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). Further information is available on the Disaster Response Legal Service NSW Website:

  • Eligibility for the Resilient Homes Program
  • Eligibility for disaster grants
  • Tenancy issues around rent, repairs, and eviction
  • Credit, debt, fines and financial hardship
  • Employment entitlements and unfair dismissals
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Other legal problems related to disasters

Key Legal Aid Contacts:

Orange Legal Aid office

Suite 4, 95 Byng Street, Orange

Phone: 6362 8022

Email OrangeOffice@legalaid.nsw.gov.au

Law Access 1300 888 529

Disaster Response Legal Service: 1800 801 529

Assistance with Disaster Grant Applications

Rural Financial Counsellors can assist farmers to complete Special Disaster Grant Applications. Assistance can be provided remotely. 

Do not self-assess – contact the NSW RFCS hotline on 1800 319 458 for the support from RFC to determine your eligibility for assistance.

Find out more information here.

CatholicCare - Financial Counselling

Catholic Care can assist with financial assistance, debt repayment, insurance liasion etc. Contact Catholic Care Wilcannia-Forbes on 1800 067 067 to access this assistance. Financial Counsellors can assist anyone to navigate what help is available and especially to speak with banks, electricity/telco companies etc, to explain the situation and seek hardship arrangements/support such as placing on hold to give time to navigate insurance and other support.
Catholic Care can liaise with landlords and agencies etc

Catholic Care are independent, provide information and only act if people want us to assist.

CatholicCare Wilcannia-Forbes Financial Counselling on 1800 067 067 or 6850 1777.

 

Essential Energy 

Essential Energy may be able to provide financial support for reconnecting power to properties affected by flooding.

For more information visit their website or call 13 20 80. 

Disaster Relief - Banks

It addition to the below listed banks, additional information for disaster relief and financial hardship assistance through banks can be located here.   

 

 Telstra

Residents living in disaster areas could be eligible for a Telstra disaster relief package.

If you’re a Telstra customer living in a disaster area, Telstra will send you an SMS with a link to request a disaster assistance package. If you don’t receive that SMS, you can call to activate it on Telstra’s dedicated disaster assistance line: 1800 888 888. You can also contact Telstra online.

Find out more information here.

Optus

Financial Hardship assistance may be available for Optus customers.

Customers can call 1300 308 839.

Find out more information here.

  

Need for Feed - Animal Fodder  

Lions Australia has developed the project Need for Feed in response to Natural Disaster around Australia. This program provides fooder to farmers in need and is 100% volunteer run. 

You can apply for assistance https://www.needforfeed.org/apply-for-assistance.html
If you’re in a position to spare some fodder to help https://www.needforfeed.org/fodder-donations.html
Your donations will help keep our trucks rolling: https://www.needforfeed.org/donate.html

BlazeAid: Property Assistance

We have welcomed back BLAZEAID who will be providing support for farmers and home owners. Members of the community requiring assistance with general farm assistance and/or fencing are required to contact Camp Coordinators directly.
Coordinator: Chris and John Male: 0418 745 994 or email forbes@blazeaid.com.au.

More information on BlazeAid can be located here.

Australian Taxation Office - Flood Support

The Australian Taxation Office has a range of support options available to help you meet your tax obligations. You can phone our Emergency support line on 1800 806 218 to see what support is available in your circumstances or see Support in difficult times.