Media releases

Westpac helps continue recovery of communities affected by natural disasters

  • $300,000 in funding made available to help with re-building and recovery efforts following natural disasters.
  • Grants of up to $10,000 available through the Natural Disaster Recovery Fund.
  • Community groups encouraged to apply to support projects that will facilitate the social, economic and community recovery of disaster affected areas.

Westpac has announced today it will commit up to $300,000 in grants to provide support and financial assistance in disaster-affected regions including the longer-term rebuilding and recovery of areas hit by natural disasters earlier this year. 

This includes communities in the Adelaide Hills, SA, affected by bushfires in February; communities in South East Queensland and West Arnhem NT affected by Tropical Cyclone Marcia and Tropical Cyclone Lam; and communities hit by the NSW East Coast storms and floods in April.

The grants, up to the value of $10,000 each, are part of Westpac Group's Natural Disaster Recovery Fund which was established to provide financial help for community groups and non-for-profit organisations, funding projects that support the recovery of disaster affected communities.

Applications for this year's round of grants are now invited from local organisations which support communities that have been affected by natural disasters.  Support will be prioritised for projects that will facilitate the social, economic and community recovery, and improve the resilience of these disaster-affected communities.

Westpac have a long history of helping communities affected by disasters and want to help reduce the long term impacts of these events. The Natural Disaster Recovery Grants are up to $10,000, to community and not-for-profit groups working in these communities, to assist with recovery projects.

Applications are open from 10 August, as history from previous natural disasters has shown that 6-9 months is a critical time for key restoration following a natural disaster.

It is hoped the grant funding will provide that much needed support for restoration and long term recovery in the affected regions.

These projects may include:

  • Repairs and rebuilding of community infrastructure, to ensure local residents and community groups have places to meet and to coordinate and hold community activities.
  • Regeneration of people and places, recognising that disaster recovery can lead to stress and anxiety, reduced capacity to fundraise and coordinate projects, and health and wellbeing issues among the broader affected community.
  • Economic development activities that assist with returning tourism to impacted regions and capturing opportunities for economic renewal

Online applications can be made at www.westpac.com.au/ndrf2015 from Monday 10 August 2015 and will close at 5pm (AEST) on Monday 7 September 2015

Applications will be assessed within four weeks of the closing date. The outcome of applications will be announced in October 2015.