Residents recovering from last summer’s bushfires in Gilmore and Eden-Monaro are set to benefit from vital face to face support services being extended for another year.
Recovery Support Services link people to their own personalised recovery support worker, who can help them navigate and access services and disaster assistance packages. So far 4,200 families across 25 local government areas have accessed their local Recovery Support Service.
Australian Government Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said the extension would ensure long-term support is available for impacted communities throughout their recovery.
“The Australian and NSW governments are pleased to extend this funding for another 12 months as these locally based services provide an important link between survivors and the support they need as they recover,’ said Minister Littleproud.
“As every person, family and community are at different points in their recovery, we recognised that the assistance that is provided across the state would need to be continued.”
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said that an additional $8.2 million in funding will see this support continue to be available next week, next month and for all of next year.
Andrew Constance Member for Bega said “we understand that every person is recovering at their own pace. I encourage anyone who needs advice, assistance or guidance on the next steps in their recovery to make contact with their local Recovery Support Service. These free services are there to help everyone impacted by last summer’s fires.”
Recovery Support Services are funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement (DFRA) which is jointly funded with the Australian Government. The extension takes the total funding for the services to almost $17 million.
Breakdown of Recovery Support Services:
| Recovery Support Service | Provider
|
LGAs covered
|
| Bega Valley Recovery Support Service
|
Bega Valley Shire Council
|
Bega Valley
|
| Community Links Recovery Support Service
|
Community Links Wollondilly Inc
|
Wingecarribee
Wollondilly |
| Eurobodalla Recovery Support Service
|
Eurobodalla Shire Council
|
Eurobodalla
|
| Monaro Family Support Recovery Support Service
|
Monaro Family Support Services
|
Snowy Monaro
|
| Rural Recovery Support Service
|
Department of Primary Industries
|
Armidale
Bega Valley Clarence Valley Cootamundra Gundagai Eurobodalla Glenn Innes Severn Greater Hume Hawkesbury Kempsey Lithgow Mid Coast Nambucca Queanbeyan-Palerang Richmond Valley Shoalhaven Snowy Valleys Tenterfield Wagga Wagga Walcha Wingecarribee |
| Shoalhaven Bushfire Recovery Support Service
|
Barnardos Australia
|
Shoalhaven
|
| Step by Step Recovery Support Service
|
Gateway Family Services
|
Blue Mountains
Hawkesbury Lithgow Mid-Western |
Further details are available at: https://www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/Documents/factsheets/nsw-recovery-support-services.pdf