More suburbs across the City of Moreton Bay have been added to the Personal Hardship Assistance Scheme following recent heavy rainfall and flooding, with support available through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The newly activated areas include Arana Hills, Beachmere, Burpengary East, Caboolture, Dayboro, Eatons Hill, Highvale, Joyner, Laceys Creek, Lawnton, Samford Valley, Samford Village, Strathpine, Warner, and Wights Mountain.
Affected residents can access emergency hardship grants of $180 per person—up to $900 for a family of five or more—to cover immediate essentials such as food, clothing, and medicine. Additional financial aid is available to help uninsured, income-tested residents repair homes, reconnect essential services, and replace household items.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the expanded assistance was crucial for those recovering from the floods.
“As we learn more about the severe impacts of this week’s wild weather, we’re activating further Personal Hardship Assistance for Queenslanders,” Senator Watt said.
“These emergency measures are designed to help people get back on their feet as soon as possible, whether it’s grants for food, clothing, or reconnecting essential services.”
State minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Nikki Boyd, urged residents to check their eligibility for support.
“If you live in a disaster-activated suburb and were affected by the storms, please see what funding you’re eligible for,” Ms Boyd said.
“This can be done through qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or by calling the Queensland Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349.”
Personal Hardship Assistance remains available for flood-affected Bray Park residents, while Moreton Bay Council is receiving support for counter-disaster operations and the reconstruction of essential public assets following ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily.
Available assistance
- Emergency Hardship Assistance Grants – $180 per person, up to $900 per family, for immediate essentials.
- Structural Assistance Grants – Up to $50,000 for uninsured, income-tested homeowners to repair or replace disaster-damaged dwellings.
- Essential Services Hardship Assistance – $150 per person, up to $750 per family, for residents who lost essential services at home for more than five consecutive days.
- Essential Household Contents Grants – Up to $1,765 per individual and $5,300 per family to replace essential household items like bed linen and white goods.
- Essential Services Safety and Reconnection Scheme – Income-tested grants of up to $5,000 for uninsured residents to restore electricity, gas, water, or sewerage.
- Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets – Reimbursement for the repair and rebuilding of public assets damaged by the disaster.
- Counter-Disaster Operations – Assistance for councils and state agencies responding to community needs before, during, and after the disaster.
More information on DRFA support, including assistance related to ex-Tropical Cyclone Kirrily, is available on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority website.
