What assistance is available?
Grants of up to $50,000 are available for affected small businesses following the South East Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall, 24 December 2023 - 3 January 2024, to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace or repair damaged infrastructure and stock and other costs associated with the recovery process. Businesses should take photographs of the direct damage to accompany their application/s.
Applicants need to show they are an eligible small business, within the defined disaster area and demonstrate they have suffered direct impact from the disaster. Read this page and the guidelines for more information.
If you are insured, full details and a copy of your insurance policy and/or claim must be provided. Please be aware that QRIDA may be unable to finalise your Disaster Assistance Grant application until the outcome of your insurance claim is determined and claim outcome is provided.
The maximum grant amount is $50,000 and can be accessed through the following:
- Initial application/s up to the total amount of $10,000 is available to support an initial claim. Evidence of the direct damage is required such as photographs and quotations, tax invoices or official receipts.
- Subsequent application/s up to the total amount of $40,000 is available to support subsequent claims for which full evidence of payment is required.
Complete applications are assessed in order of receipt and QRIDA may request further information to help assess an application.
How to apply
Providing you have the required documentation and meet eligibility, you can apply for the grant over a number of applications or two separate applications.
Example 1:
- If you have quotes to the value of $10,000, then you can make an initial application for the full $10,000
- If you only have quotes to the value of $9,000 and you’re expecting more quotes to come in later, you can submit an application for the first $9,000 and then submit a second application for the $1,000 when your next round of quotes come in
- This initial amount is to support with cash flow back into the business with either deposits, small payments and more.
Example 2:
- You have now spent the initial $10,000 on deposits and/or minor work and require additional funding to complete the work
- Once you have applied for and received the initial $10,000, you will be required to complete an additional application which involves acquitting the funds (letting us know how you spent the initial $10,000) and provide evidence such as receipts or invoices and proof of the payment of these, to support this next request for funds
- You can apply for subsequent amounts as many times as you need until you reach the total amount.
How may the assistance help you?
Eligible clean-up, reinstatement activities and emergency measures include:
- Equipment and materials to undertake clean-up
- Additional labour costs (above and beyond normal wage expenditure i.e. day-to-day staffing)
- Disposing of damaged goods and stock, including associated costs
- Repairs to buildings (other than housing)
- Reconditioning/ repairing essential plant and equipment
- Purchase or hire/ lease costs for equipment essential to the immediate resumption of the business
- Payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections
- Essential repairs to premises and internal fittings that is not covered by insurance.
Am I eligible?
To be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant, you must:
- be a small business owner
- hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster
- own a small business located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster that has suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster
- have been engaged in carrying on the small business when affected by the eligible disaster
- be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application and
- intend to re-establish the small business in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster.
An applicant may also be eligible for an exceptional circumstances grant if both of the following apply:
- the small business is located outside the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster but is operated at least sometimes on a regular basis in the area; and
- plant or equipment of the small business situated in the defined disaster area has been damaged as a result of the eligible disaster.
What documents do I need to provide with my applications?
If you have already applied for assistance from QRIDA please provide your QRIDA Client ID Number. Please do not mail original documents as we are unable to return them.
Rates Notice / Lease Agreement
- Your small business must be located within a defined disaster area. If you own the property, please attach a copy of your most recent Local Government rates notice for the property impacted by the disaster event.
- If you lease the property, please attach a copy of your current lease agreement (lease agreement must confirm that you are responsible for meeting the costs being claimed).
Photographs of damage
- 5 - 10 photographs evidencing direct damage
Evidence of payment
- For grant applications up to $10,000 (i.e. for immediate resumption of business directly following the disaster event):
- Copies of tax invoices or quotes/estimates
- OR
For grant applications over $10,000 or subsequent applications up to $40,000:
- Copies of tax invoices AND evidence that these invoices have been paid (e.g. bank statements, electronic bank transfer confirmations or official supplier receipts).
Details of insurance
If insured, full details and a copy of your insurance policy and/or claim must be provided. Please be aware QRIDA is unable to finalise your Disaster Assistance Grant application until the outcome of your insurance claim is determined and formal advice of the claim outcome is provided. If you are eligible to claim under your insurance policy, you must do so, and have that claim finalised before lodging an application for grant assistance.
Defined disaster areas
The Minister for Fire and Emergency Services has activated disaster assistance for the South East Queensland Severe Storms and Rainfall, 24 December 2023 - 3 January 2024.
To be eligible for assistance your property must be located in one of the defined disaster areas:
- City of Gold Coast Council
- Logan City Council
- Scenic Rim Regional Council
QRIDA administers financial assistance to disaster affected primary producers, businesses and non-profit organisations under the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Accessibility
For any accessibility and other enquiries, please contact the Queensland Government directly through their Contact page.
