If you've been affected by the October 2022 Victorian floods or Bogong landslip, call the Victorian Flood Recovery Hotline.
Financial support for affected families
Financial support is available for people whose homes have been affected by the October 2022 Victorian floods or Bogong landslip. For information, visit Financial support available for people impacted by the 2022 floods.
If you’re experiencing financial hardship
If you're experiencing ongoing financial hardship, you should contact your child's school to talk about cost-support options. This includes the option of getting help through State Schools’ Relief.
State Schools’ Relief can support with the cost of essential school supplies, including:
- uniforms
- footwear
- stationary packs
- digital items such as internet USB dongles and headphones
If you are a parent or carer and you need financial assistance with the above items, please request an appointment with your school principal, assistant principal, or welfare/wellbeing coordinator to discuss your needs.
Schools can apply directly, via the SSR online portal, whenever they believe there is a need to support a student whose family/carers are facing difficulty in providing the appropriate uniform, footwear, or educational items for attending school.
Support from the NDIS for children with disability
If your child gets NDIS funding and their belongings such as assistive technologies need repairs or replacement, the NDIS can help. Contact the NDIS National Contact Centre on 1800 800 110 or visit Supporting participants through severe weather in Victoria and Tasmania for more information.
Mental health and wellbeing support for school-aged children
Children and young people may experience longer-term emotional and psychosocial effects because of emergencies such as floods.
If your child requires support, you may contact your school to talk about:
- support through student support services
- how secondary school students can access counselling and wellbeing support
- for secondary students, a referral to headspace face-to-face and phone counselling services. You can also contact headspace directly on 1800 650 890 or eheadspace.org.au
You may also get support through:
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 or kidshelp.com.au
- Parentline: 1300 30 1300 or parentline.com.au
For information visit, Mental health and wellbeing support.
Recovery to help children deal with trauma
The following resources can help support children and young people deal with a difficult or traumatic time:
- mental health and wellbeing toolkits for children and parents and/or carers
- the Schools Mental Health Menu of evidence-based programs and initiatives, including specific programs for disaster, grief and loss
- Phoenix Australia resources, including for helping yourself and children after a traumatic event
- the Emerging Minds - Community Trauma Toolkit includes tips for helping children through a traumatic event
- Birdie’s Tree recovery suite is specifically designed for children aged 0 to 5 to work through traumatic experiences and 'big feelings'
Translated resources about how to deal with trauma
Translated information is available for:
- Trauma - reaction and recovery - Better Health Channel
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - Better Health Channel
- Survivor reactions to traumatic events - Better Health Channel
- Trauma and children - newborns to two years - Better Health Channel
- Trauma and families - Better Health Channel
- Personal hardship assistance - Department of Families, Fairness and Housing
- Relief and recovery translations/interpreters - Vic Emergency
Family violence supports following emergencies
Family violence can increase during and after emergency and traumatic situations. If your family is experiencing family violence, talk to your child's school. They can offer support.
More resources and support can be found on:
Donations
If you would like to volunteer with flood recovery or donate to those affected, visit Volunteer and donate.
Find out more
For information about recovery support for people and communities visit, 2022 Victorian flood recovery.
For up-to-date emergency warnings and information, visit Emergency Recovery Victoria.
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