Australian bushfires - support resources for you, your clients and communities

As bushfires and extreme heatwave conditions persist across regions in Australia, our thoughts are with all our members, particularly those in practice supporting their clients and the wider communities. We know there are many who have had losses or have needed to evacuate to safety.

Chartered Accountants are often the backbone of their communities and it is during times like these we often draw on the strength of our community and peers.

Your CA community is here to support you. We have a range of resources to help through the recovery where needed.

Resources to support you

• The Chartered Accountants Advisory Group offer free and confidential guidance on professional and ethical matters to help you make a considered, informed decision about what to do.
• Our Mental Health First Aid Guide for Chartered Accountants to help you engage in difficult conversations with your clients and communities and ask R U OK?
• We have made our Employee Assistance Program available to members during this time, which aims to support you and members of your family through counselling services. This can be accessed 24 hours, 7 days a week by calling Converge International on 1300 687 327.

Resources to support your clients

• Download our checklist on practical issues for small business impacted by bushfires to help advise clients who have been affected.
• ATO assistance: If a business or residential address is in one of the impacted postcodes identified, the ATO will automatically grant a deferral for activity statements lodgments and payments due.
• Federal Government financial assistance grants: The Disaster Recovery Allowance provides access to up to 13 weeks income support to help those in certain areas get back on their feet and the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment provides a one-off payment for people who have been seriously injured, have lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged. There are dedicated pages for NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland and Tasmania.
• Australian Red Cross grants: providing emergency grant of $5,000 per household for people whose primary place of residence has been destroyed or rendered uninhabitable.
• Australian Banking Association (ABA) assistance package: affected customers experiencing financial difficulties can have their loan repayments deferred, fees and charges waived and existing loans restructured at ABA member banks including Commonwealth Bank, National Australia Bank, Westpac, ANZ and St George.
• ASIC bushfire relief: If you've been affected by bushfires and are facing financial hardship, you may be able to make payment arrangements with ASIC for your fees. You can also visit their dedicated webpage for what to do after a natural disaster.
• Read the latest statements from the Insurance Council of Australia and the Federal Government's small business support.

Resources to support your communities

• CA ANZ have partnered with Rural Aid and encourages members to help raise much needed funds to support Australian businesses affected by bushfire and drought.
• Members can register their interest to volunteer their professional services through the CA ANZ Professional Services Volunteer Program to assist impacted businesses and Australians with their government grant applications and individual tax returns.
• Consider donating to charities assisting those affected such as Red Cross, GIVIT, Salvation Army, WIRES and RSPCA.
• Access to assistance packages and support from telecommunication providers such as Telstra, Optus and Vodafone.

Local resources

New South Wales

• NSW Rural Fire Service website: bushfire updates and alert levels
• NSW Government Office of Emergency Management: Information to become disaster ready for individuals, councils, community organisations and businesses.

South Australia

• SA Country Fire Service: bushfire updates
• SA Government: disaster recovery information and funding arrangements
• Primary Industries and Regions SA (PIRSA): recovery resources for primary producers
• Kangaroo Island Bushfires and Recovery: make a donation or access financial assistance
• SA Bushfire Appeal: donate or receive financial assistance

Victoria

• VIC Country Fire Authority: Bushfire updates and alerts
• VIC Emergency: Bushfire warnings and incidences on a map
• Forest Fire Management Victoria: Park and forest closures
• Business Victoria: Bushfire recovery

Western Australia

• Emergency WA: Bushfire updates, alerts and advice
• Department of Fire and Emergency Services WA: Bushfire updates, alerts, warnings and advice
• My Fire Watch: Bushfire advice and updates

Queensland

• QLD Rural Fire Service: bushfire updates and alert levels
• Business QLD: small business recovery information and advice
• QLD Government: Personal hardship financial assistance
• Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority: disaster recovery assistance
• QLD Disaster Assist: disaster recovery funding arrangements

Tasmania

• Tasmania Fire Service: bushfire updates
• Tasmania Government: financial assistance for volunteer firefighters
• TAS Disaster Assistance: Recovery and restoration grants