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HELPLINE NUMBERS
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In an emergency, call triple zero (000)
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Emergency radio broadcasts: Find your ABC local radio here
assistance
KEY CONTACTS
New South Wales
NSW RFS: and
Twitter: @NSWRFS
NSW Bush Fire Information Line: 1800 679 737
NSW Government Disaster Welfare Assistance Line: 1800 018 444
Victoria
Victoria Country Fire Authority:
VicEmergency Hotline: 1800 226 226
Twitter: @VICemergency
VIC Emergency Relief Assistance Payments:
Queensland
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services:
Twitter: @QldFES
South Australia
SA CFS: www.cfs.sa.gov.au
Bushfire Information Hotline: 1800 362 361
Twitter: @CFSAlerts
Western Australia
Department of Fires & Emergency Services:
Twitter: @dfes_wa
Tasmania
Tasmania Fire Service:
Twitter: @TasFireService
Australian Government financial assistance
Anyone who has been adversely affected by the bushfires should contact the Department of Human Services on 180 22 66 to seek advice on eligibility for financial assistance.
Mental Health Support
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
BeyondBlue: 1300 224 636
Immediate small business support for bushfire affected communities (FED)
In response to the devastating bushfires, the Government has announced a comprehensive suite of measures to immediately support impacted small businesses. This initial package responds to the needs expressed by small businesses on the ground and at the small business roundtable last week which saw chambers of commerce from fire-affected regions, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia come together with the Government to discuss the impacts of this natural disaster on small business.
https://www.business.gov.au/news/bushfire-support
Contact Centre: 13 28 46
We are offering employment relations, retail leasing and insurance advice to retailers affected by bushfires. Call us on 1300 368 041 and dial 8 to get advice.
resources
FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE
insurance
support
LEASING
SUPPORT
If your business has been impacted, you may be able to claim financial assistance in the form of grants, deferred debt repayments or waived fees. Please contact your bank to discuss your individual circumstances and find out what support is available.
Click the link below to obtain a list of phone numbers and websites for the financial hardship teams at each bank.
https://www.ausbanking.org.au/policy/customers/financial-hardship/
Government Support and Resources
Our insurance partners can assist retailers with concerns or questions about their insurance, and stand ready to help with issues arising from the impact of the bushfires. These issues might include interruption insurance or denial of access insurance, assistance with handling claims, and questions about insurance or risk management products for the people and assets in your retail business.
If you have any queries at all even regarding the definition of terms or assistance with a claim you can call on the expertise of our respected insurance partner at no obligation and free of charge. ARA’s Insurance partner is Ardrossan Insurance.
managing your staff
Retailers affected by bushfires can contact Lease1 for services, support, and resources if they are experiencing a property, building insurance, landlord or leasing issue related to these fires.
Even if you are having difficulty meeting their rental obligations due to the downturn in trade as a result of these devastating bushfires, Lease1's support and services are being provided at no obligation and free of charge.
Australia’s federal and state governments offer a range of disaster assistance packages for residents and businesses affected by natural disasters. If you are affected by bushfires and need support, please visit DisasterAssist to see whether you are eligible to receive support and help with disaster recovery costs.
The information on the website outlines assistance available for the current bushfires, as well as public information messages, freecall numbers, and information about available assistance packages.
The increasing number of bushfires around Australia have displaced many residents and led to businesses closing in the affected areas.
Many employers are now faced with the challenge of managing the impacts natural disasters may have on their business and employees. It is relevant for employers to understand their rights and obligations when managing employees during periods of a natural disaster.
For more information please contact our Employment Relations Team on 1300 368 041
employee entitlements during catastrophic weather conditions
protecting the health and safety
of retail workers
ACCI has launched a straightforward website to help fire-affected small-to-medium-sized businesses access critical information, in one central location. The site lists the available funding and grants from federal and state governments as well information and resources - from financial advice, insurance and tax, to what work health and safety precautions business owners need to take.
This information portal also tracks what Australia’s chambers of commerce, large and small, and industry associations are doing to help businesses and communities impacted by fires, ranging from providing free services and hotlines to collecting donations.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
You can donate to the disaster appeals listed below:
GOOD360 - Support Australian bushfire disaster relief
Good360 is a matchmaker connecting the brand-new goods of businesses with the Australians who need them most. Good360 helps connect the right goods to the right people at the right time during all stages of a disaster, providing hope and dignity to those impacted. Good360 is there in the early days with personal care items, supplies for shelters and evacuation centres and is there months and years later with furniture, mattresses, home goods and other necessities to help communities through the recovery journey.
SALVATION ARMY DISASTER APPEAL
Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams are responding to devastating bushfires around Australia as an unprecedented number of emergency-level fires cause tragic loss of life and property. Salvation Army teams have been activated at multiple locations, with a number of teams on standby in case they are required at other evacuation centres.
ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY BUSHFIRE
APPEAL (NSW)
Vinnies is on the ground helping people as they deal with the immediate aftermath of fires, and we will continue to be there as they rebuild their lives in the long term. Bushfires are currently devastating several communities across Australia. Hundreds of homes have been lost, livelihoods destroyed and tragically, some people have lost their loved ones.This emergency is unprecedented, and frighteningly, it is forecast to get even worse. Please donate urgently so Vinnies can be there for everyone needing our help.
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS DISASTER
RECOVERY RELIEF
Your donation helps Red Cross give people the support they need in disasters, whenever and wherever they happen. We have decades of experience in caring for people affected by earthquakes, cyclones, floods, storms, fire, drought and other emergencies. This includes : recovery programs and emergency assistance in communities affected by disasters like bushfires, heat, floods cyclones and other emergencies, helping people and communities prepare for disasters and protect what matters most and training, equipment, logistics and coordination of our volunteers
NSW RURAL FIRE SERVICE
Rural Fire Brigades are often more than just an emergency service. They can also be a vital community service, provide a community meeting point or offer assistance with non-emergency roles. For this reason, many people choose to donate to their local Rural Fire Brigade.
COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY
A Bushfire Disaster Appeal has been established to support community members affected by the recent bushfires in East Gippsland and Hume.
The appeal provides a formal channel for the public to donate money directly to affected communities and is designed to achieve positive outcomes for the community, by working directly with local recovery committees and structures to inform and drive the distribution of funds.
WILDLIFE EMERGENCY FUND
Horrific unrelenting fires continue to decimate NSW during one of the worst droughts in history. During the catastrophic fires, lives have been lost, hundreds of homes have been lost, over 4.9 million hectares of land has been destroyed and dozens of fires are still burning. Please donate to help today. Your support will help ensure future generations will get to see wildlife in the wild.
Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund 2020
Your donation will help fund emergency veterinary assistance and scientific intervention. All donations either great or small will help with the response to this crisis.
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VICTORIAN BUSHFIRE APPEAL - FIREFIGHTER GINGERBREAD
Ferguson Plarre have baked up a fresh new product to help raise funds for the Victorian Bushfire Appeal
The Fire Fighters will retail for $4.50 each, 100% of the sales proceeds will be donated to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. They are available at all Ferguson Plarre stores until further notice. People can order online via their website to avoid stores that might have sold out: https://www.fergusonplarre.com.au/firefighter-gingerbread-bushfire-relief