Disaster Recovery Services in the Kempsey Region

If you are in an emergency and require immediate assistance please call '000'

Disaster assistance has been categorised into bushfire, drought, flood or storm, pandemic and general help

BUSHFIRE

Macleay Valley Recovery
P: 02 6566 3200
Kempsey Shire Council's Bushfire Recovery page is here to support our community recover from the recent bushfires. If you have been affected, there are a range of assistance measures available to support you
 

NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service
P: 13 77 88
For people impacted by bushfire, the NSW Bushfire Customer Care Service will help you navigate the support and financial assistance that's available across all levels of government.
Service NSW is providing one-on-one support for people and businesses, available over the phone or in-person.

NSW Bushfire Hub -NSW Department of Primary Industries
The NSW Bushfire Hub provides information, advice and assistance for primary producers related to property, animals and livestock, water and mental health.

You matter, and taking care of your mental health is important.
We understand that clean-up can be an emotional time in the recovery process. Check in on your friends and neighbours, and if you or someone you know needs help, reach out.
FREE and CONFIDENTIAL support is available 24hrs a day.
Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Beyondblue: 1300 224 636
Mensline: 1300 789 978
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Counselling
Free counselling and additional mental health support for individuals, families and emergency services workers affected by the bushfires.
Find out more

Department of Human Services Farm Household Allowance
A payment for farming families in financial hardship. If you’ve been affected by the bushfires, you can continue to get Farm Household Allowance if you intend to return to farming.

Rural Assistance Authority
P: 1800 678 593
Natural disaster recovery grants provide immediate relief to eligible primary producers, small businesses and non-profit organisations, for clean-up and restoration costs in the aftermath of extreme natural disasters.

Business Connect: Australian Small Businesses
P: 1300 134 359
A free mobile advisory service is available to small businesses to provide advice about managing cash flow, planning the next steps, accessing financial support schemes and connecting to additional support. A local advisor can meet you at a convenient place and discuss your business needs.

Dispute Resolution for Australian Businesses
P: 1300 795 534
A confidential and free dispute resolution service is available to help small businesses needing assistance to work through problems with other businesses or government.

DROUGHT

Drought Hub –NSW Department of Primary Industries
P: 1800 678 593
The Drought Hub is an online portal for NSW Primary Producer drought assistance and information about: financial assistance, biosecurity, water resources, animal welfare, mental health and more.

Drought Angels
P: (07) 4662 7371
Drought Angels supports Aussie farmers and their rural communities with meaningful and personalised assistance. We provide food hampers, care packs, prepaid visas and local store vouchers.

Rural Aid Australia
P: 1300 327 624
Assistance for primary producers in fire, drought or flood help with $1,500 to pay bills, register for Buy-A-Bale for fodder for livestock, access to water, or help with food or other costs.

Animal Welfare in Dry Times -NSW Department of Primary Industries
Information about feed subsidies and low interest finance options, stocking numbers, and business skills training for farm businesses to make it easier to prepare for and respond to drought

FLOOD and STORM

State Emergency Services (SES)
P: 132 500
While our major responsibilities are for flood and storm emergencies, NSW SES also provides the majority of general rescue effort in the rural parts of the state.

PANDEMIC

Government announcements and advice
P: 02 6566 3200
Kempsey Shire Council has developed resources to connect services, groups, businesses and community members to the right information and link you to supports that are available in the Macleay.
Accurate and trusted information regarding COVID-19 is updated as it comes to hand, based on the information provided by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Kempsey Health Campus COVID-19 Clinic
8am to 12pm weekdays
The clinic is located at the front of the Emergency Department.

COVID HOTLINE (24/7) 1800 020 080

GENERAL EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE

You matter, taking care of your mental health is important
We understand that emergencies can be an emotional experience, at that time and afterwards. Check in on your friends and neighbours, and if you or someone you know needs help, reach out.
FREE and CONFIDENTIAL support is available 24hrs a day.
Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
Beyondblue: 1300 224 636
Mensline: 1300 789 978
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800

Lifeline
P: 02 6581 2800
Lifeline Mid Coast is built on a commitment to reach out to those in crisis, whenever they need it and wherever they are, offering real support when difficulties seem overwhelming. If you need help, please call us.

Services Australia – Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support
Services Australia supports Australian individuals, families, businesses and organisations by delivering payments and services. Go online for information relating to your situation, or log on to MyGov to claim.

Service NSW
P: 13 77 88
Service NSW makes it easy to find Government information and services. Go online, or visit the Kempsey office: 55 Elbow Street West Kempsey NSW 2440 (check online for opening hours)

Australian Red Cross -Kempsey
P: 02 6561 4000
The staff and volunteers at the Kempsey office of the Australian Red Cross support communities throughout the Mid North Coast. If you need support or would like to be involved, please call or visit the office: 152 Belgrave Street Kempsey NSW 2440

St Vincent de Paul Society -Kempsey
P: 02 6562 5933
Offering support for local Macleay Valley residents, including assistance with food, communications, accessing medical help and more. If you need support, please call or visit the office: 40 Belgrave Street Kempsey NSW 2440

FLOOD

Macleay Valley Recovery
https://yoursay.macleay.nsw.gov.au/recovery
Phone: 02 6566 3200
Address: 57 Elbow Street, West Kempsey
Kempsey Shire Council’s Flood Recovery page is here to support our community recover from the recent floods. If you have been affected, there are a range of assistance measures available to support you.

NSW Mental Health Line
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/mentalhealth/pages/mental-health-line.aspx
Phone: 1800 011 511
If you or someone you know needs help, the Mental Health Line offers:
- Professional help and advice
- Referrals to local mental health services

Federal Government – Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA)
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/new-south-wales-floods-march-2021-disaster-recovery-allowance
Phone: 180 22 66
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) provides income support payments to employees, primary producers and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the storms and floods.

Service NSW
https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/floods?web=1&wdLOR=cDC738A03-4423-4938-B78E-D2687CB2C255
Phone: 13 77 88
The Storm and Flood Page on Service NSW’s website hosts a range of information for businesses including;
- Emergency contacts and services
- Disaster Assistance Finder
- Support & Resources

The Australian Government’s SME Recovery Loan Scheme is available to flood-affected businesses. The SME Recovery Loan Scheme was designed to help businesses on JobKeeper during the March quarter and has been extended to flood-affected businesses

Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services
https://www.lls.nsw.gov.au/help-and-advice/emergency-and-biosecurity/floods
Phone: 1800 814 647
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services are working together to manage the effects of the flood event on agriculture, livestock and our community as Agriculture and Animal Services Functional Area (AASFA).
They can help with:
- Animal assessment and veterinary assistance
- Stock euthanasia and burial
- Emergency fodder (up to three days supply)
- Emergency stockwater (where there is an immediate animal welfare concern)
- Livestock feeding and management advice

If you would like to talk to one of the Local Land Services team about managing your crops after flooding call your nearest North Coast Local Land Services on 1300 795 299.

The Rapid Relief Team (RRT)
Phone: 1300 858 208
The Rapid Relief Team (RRT) is heading to Kempsey to support farmers affected by floods by donating 1,500 bales of hay. Register to collect a donation of hay bales.
When: Thursday, 6 May 2021
Where: Kempsey Showground, Kempsey
Time: 7.30am to 2.00pm

NSW Rural Assistance Authority
https://www.raa.nsw.gov.au/
Phone: 1800 678 593
Disaster recovery grants of up to $75,000 are now available to primary producers affected by the NSW storms and floods. To apply contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority.

NSW Business Connect
https://www.nortecsmallbiz.org/business-connect.html?mc_cid=dd48bad8bb&mc_eid=ba9500139f
Phone: 0490 297 703
The NSW Business Connect advisory service is free for businesses affected by the recent fires, drought, flood or COVID-19.
 

Small Business Commissioner
https://www.smallbusiness.nsw.gov.au/
Phone: 1300 795 534
Concessional loans of up to $130,000 at a fixed concessional interest rate may be available to small businesses, primary producers and non-profits.

Insurance Council of Australia (ICA)
https://www.insurancecouncil.com.au/
Phone: 1800 734 621
If you are a policyholder and need to make an insurance claim, you can expect to be given priority by insurers. For advice and guidance phone the ICA.

Legal Aid NSW
https://disasterhelp.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/
Phone: 1800 801 529
For help with legal problems including insurance claims and disputes, financial hardship, tenancy and Centrelink