Small businesses in Southern Queensland can receive free, impartial and confidential disaster recovery support
Small businesses in Southern Queensland can receive free, impartial and confidential disaster recovery support
About our disaster recovery assistance
If you’re a small business in Southern Queensland, we offer free, impartial and confidential support to help your business recover from a range of disasters including:
- flood
- cyclone
- bushfire.
How we can help
Our Small Business Financial Counsellors have a detailed understanding of the disaster recovery process and can provide immediate help to access available funding. Together with supporting your business in the medium and longer term.
We can assist you on the phone, via a video chat or visit your business (when it’s safe to do so).
Immediate assistance – accessing grants, disaster assistance and financial support
Our Small Business Financial Counsellors simplify the process and can help your business:
- identify what grants, disaster assistance and financial support are available in your area and whether you are eligible
- help you understand the funding available, including what the application forms are asking and gathering required documents.
We can help your business access funding you’re eligible for from the Queensland Government and Australian Government, together with available funding from other providers that service your area.
Government funding available for recent disasters in Southern Queensland can be found below.
Western Queensland surface trough and associated rainfall and flooding
Commencing 21 March 2025
| Available from | About the funding | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Australian Government | Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment Lump sum payment to help you if you’ve been directly affected by the Western Queensland disaster. | $1,000 per adult $400 for each child younger than 16 |
| Queensland Government | Emergency Hardship Assistance Grant to help people affected by a disaster to get food, clothing, medical supplies and temporary accommodation. | $180 per person (up to $900 for a family of 5 or more) |
| QRIDA | Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant Grant to assist small businesses with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement. | Up to $25,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan Loan to assist small businesses with essential working capital for expenses. | Up to $100,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance Loan Loan to assist small businesses with re-establishing normal operations. | Up to $250,000 |
Tropical Cyclone Alfred and severe weather
1-16 March 2025
| Available from | About the funding | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| QRIDA | Exceptional Disaster Assistance Recovery Grant Grant to assist small businesses with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement. | Up to $25,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan Loan to assist small businesses with essential working capital for expenses. | Up to $100,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance Loan Loan to assist small businesses with re-establishing normal operations. | Up to $250,000 |
Southern summer rainfall and flooding
9 December 2024 – 14 January 2025
| Available from | About the funding | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan Loan to assist small businesses with essential working capital for expenses. | Up to $100,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance Loan Loan to assist small businesses with re-establishing normal operations. | Up to $250,000 |
South Queensland severe storms and rainfall
24 December 2023 – 3 January 2024
| Available from | About the funding | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan Loan to assist small businesses with essential working capital for expenses. | Up to $100,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance Loan Loan to assist small businesses with re-establishing normal operations. | Up to $250,000 |
Southern Queensland fires
8 September – 7 November 2023
| Available from | About the funding | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance (Essential Working Capital) Loan Loan to assist small businesses with essential working capital for expenses. | Up to $100,000 |
| QRIDA | Disaster Assistance Loan Loan to assist small businesses with re-establishing normal operations. | Up to $250,000 |
Medium term assistance – your recovery plan and finance
Your financial position may be impacted for 12 months or more after the disaster. As a result, you may need to:
- develop a recovery plan for your business
- monitor your cashflow, commitments and liabilities closely
- raise additional finance for your business or renegotiate terms with your bank, creditors, landlord or the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).
Our Small Business Financial Counsellors can assist in this process by helping you:
- develop an effective recovery plan
- work through your options so that you fully understand your financial position and outlook
- be able to confidently communicate this information to external parties.
Longer term assistance – increasing business resilience
The impact of a disaster event on your financial position may continue into the longer term, particularly if you need to raise additional finance to support your recovery. Our Small Business Financial Counsellors can:
- provide ongoing coaching, mentoring and support as you develop forward plans to manage your business
- support you longer term to increase your financial management capacity.
How to access disaster recovery support
To access our free, impartial and confidential disaster recovery support:
- get in touch with your local Small Business Financial Counsellor
- call 1300 732 777
- email info@sbfcssq.org.au.
Other pages you might like
Find out about our free and confidential financial counselling.
Find out about our free emotional coaching and wellbeing support.
Get in touch if you have a question about our services.
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SBFCS Southern Queensland
Funded by the Australian Government and Queensland Government
Registered charity
We support diversity and the equal inclusion of all persons, regardless of any identity markers. We acknowledge Traditional Owners of Country and pay our respects to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
