The Albanese Labor Government will provide more than $10 million in additional funding to Emergency and Food Relief providers in response to recent flood events and cost of living pressures.
Around $7.4 million will be distributed to 84 Emergency Relief providers across New South Wales, Victoria, and Tasmania impacted by flood events.
A further $2.8 million will be shared between Food Relief providers nationally to assist Australians doing it tough.
This comes on top of millions already committed towards recovery efforts by the Commonwealth in partnership with state governments this year to respond to floods around the nation.
Minister for Social Services Amanda Rishworth said providers across the south-east of the country have been experiencing increased demand for Emergency and Food Relief due to the compounding impacts following recent flood events and increased cost of living pressures.
The allocation of funding is in response to a recommendation of the National Coordination Group. Emergency and Food Relief providers report that due to the complexity of cases and funding needs increasing, the sector’s capacity to maintain high client numbers within their current budgets is constrained.
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to helping those in need and ensuring there are appropriate services in place to support that. This additional funding means 84 Emergency Relief providers can continue helping Australians when they need it most, providing vouchers, food and clothing parcels, as well as referrals to other services,” Minister Rishworth said.
“This extra funding follows advice I received from the National Coordination Group, which has been monitoring demand for services across the country.
“We have acted immediately to ensure this support is there. We have also taken the step to provide one-off funding to our national food relief providers”
Minister Rishworth said the Government will continue to monitor the situation and listen to advice from the National Coordination Group, and respond as appropriate, particularly as we head into the natural disaster season.
This funding is in addition to the extension of $190 million over two years for Emergency Relief, Food Relief, and Financial Counselling that was announced in November.
This funding is also separate to the $257.7 million over four years announced in the October Budget for additional support to eligible community sector organisations within the Social Services portfolio to help meet the higher costs of delivering services.
Further information, including how to find an Emergency Relief provider, is available on the Department of Social Services website.