Equine Influenza support and assistance
Financial and personal support is available
Emergency financial relief, financial counselling and personal counselling to people and families in hardship as a result of the horse flu virus can now be accessed from our regional offices.
Assistance and support for people and families in need is being provided by the Department of Communities, using the professional services of Lifeline and St Vincent de Paul.
Assistance for individuals, families and businesses
The Queensland Government is coordinating a multi-agency approach to support people who have been adversely affected by the equine influenza outbreak. Details are available.
Assistance for individuals and families
Information and assistance is available from Department of Communities offices across the red zone. For information regarding Department of Communities office locations in South-East Queensland:
- Telephone:
- 13 13 04 (cost of a local call)†
For Primary carers of commercial horses
- Telephone:
- (07) 3891 6611
- Website:
- http://www.qld.equestrian.org.au/
Lifeline is offering counselling through its 24/7 telephone counselling service. Face-to-face counselling can also be arranged.
- Telephone:
- 13 11 14 (cost of a local call)†
| Area | Contact numbers |
|---|---|
| Brisbane metro based callers | (07) 3217 3700 (Answering service after hours) |
| Toowoomba based callers | (07) 4632 5800 (Answering service after hours) |
| Warwick based callers | (07) 4661 4777 (Answering service after hours) |
| Caboolture based callers | (07) 5495 7017 (Answering service after hours) |
| Ipswich based callers | (07) 3812 2055 |
| Gold Coast based callers | (07) 5594 7044 |
| Beaudesert based callers | (07) 5541 2235 |
| Margate (Redcliffe) based callers | (07) 3284 3889 |
| Sunshine Coast based callers | (07) 5443 1946 |
Assistance for businesses
QRAA is offering assistance under the Queensland Commercial Horse Small Business Emergency Assistance Scheme in the form of a non-repayable interest subsidy up to $5,000 which will contribute towards interest payments on new or existing commercial loans. Applications for this assistance should be lodged before close of business on Monday, 31 March 2008.
To be eligible to apply for the subsidy you must:
- own or operate a small business with less than 100 employees
- have experienced a significant downturn in income as a result of the Equine Influenza outbreak
- derive the majority of your business income from being part of the commercial horse industry
- have been operating the business on the 25 August 2007 (announcement of the Equine Influenza standstill) and continue to operate the business.
- Telephone:
- 1800 623 946 (toll-free within Australia)†
The Department of Tourism, Regional Development and Industry provides information and assistance for businesses affected by the equine flu outbreak. Business owners can contact the Business Hotline for information on the Equine Influenza Business Support Program, as well as for general business support and assistance information.
- Telephone:
-
1300 363 711 (toll-free within Australia)†
The department does not offer financial assistance for affected businesses.
An Equine Influenza Business Assistance Grant of $5,000 is available for eligible businesses that derive the majority of their income from the commercial horse industry and have experienced a significant downturn in income – the closing date for these grants is COB Friday 8 February 2008. A second round of this Business Assistance Grant of $5,000 may be available to eligible applicants – applications for this second round of grant funding will be accepted during a grace period of approximately four weeks from the closing date of the first round so long as first round applications are lodged by COB 8 February 2008.
- Telephone:
- 1800 234 002 (toll-free within Australia)†
General Assistance
The Equine Influenza Employment Assistance Program is an initiative of the Queensland Department of Employment and Industrial Relations, Harness Racing Queensland, Queensland Racing and the Queensland Performance and Pleasure Horse Industry. It provides employment opportunities for people who have lost a majority of their income as a result of equine influenza.
- Telephone:
- 1800 205 825 (toll-free within Australia)†
† Calls from mobile phones are charged at applicable rates.
Last updated: 23 June 2008.