Residents recovering from last summer’s bushfires in the Central West 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.
Federal Member for Calare, and Minister for Decentralisation and Regional Education, Andrew Gee, said the extension would ensure long-term support is available for impacted communities throughout their recovery.
“Almost twelve months have passed since the devastating summer bushfires and they continue to extract a heavy physical and mental toll on many here in the Central West,” Mr Gee said.
“There is still a lot of recovery work to be done and it’s important that people in our community know where to go to get the vital funding and support they need, when they need it.
“That is why the Australian and NSW governments are pleased to provide $8.2 million to extend the Recovery Support Services for another 12 months.
“While there is a wide range of federal and state bushfire support initiatives available, navigating through the criteria and information can add to an already stressful situation.
“The extension of this flexible and customised recovery service will ensure fire affected communities, such as Lithgow and Mid-Western, can access long-term support throughout their recovery journeys.
”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,” Mr Gee said.
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