Support for Vulnerable People – Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District

The Australian Government has provided Red Cross with funding to support people who are highly vulnerable to destitution as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds are for people who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents, have no way to support themselves, and have urgent needs.

Emergency relief

13 May 2020

You may have heard that Red Cross is receiving funding from the Australian Government for the next six months to deliver emergency relief and casework support.

Here is some important information about this funding:

The Red Cross has recently developed an online portal that enables vulnerable people to send information securely online. You can find this portal at https://www.redcross.org.au/covidrelief

This website is for for applicants to submit their applications and securely upload their data and documentation.

What is emergency relief?

Emergency relief is to help people meet their basic needs, like food, medicine or shelter.

Australian Red Cross has received Government funding specifically to support people who are on temporary visas with a small one-off emergency relief payment.

Emergency relief payments are not income support. They are limited and we know may not meet all needs that you have.

Who is this service for?

Given the large number of people impacted by COVID-19, the support can only be offered to people in Australia with urgent needs who:

are not Australian citizens or permanent residents; and
are not eligible for State or Territory funds for temporary visa holders (except those delivered by Red Cross); and
have no income or savings and no access to other support.

Please know that we provide assistance based on need. We have to prioritise people with urgent needs, such as families with young children, people with a disability, people who are experiencing harm, people who are vulnerable to COVID-19, and people with physical or mental health issues.

How to apply

You can visit https://www.redcross.org.au/covidrelief and register.

Additional resources that may be helpful

Services Australia (Centrelink) website with COVID-19 services in language
Status Resolution Support Service (for people who have applied for a protection visa)
Information for Victoria

Australian Red Cross Logo

	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District acknowledges the Yorta Yorta People of the land which comprises the Goulburn Valley. We pay respect to tribal Elders, past, present and emerging and we celebrate their continuing culture and acknowledge the memory of their ancestors.
	The Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District is a peak body whose mission is to promote and represent the social, cultural and economic well-being of ethnic communities in the Goulburn Valley Region through the provision of quality and innovative settlement, refugee support, community development, and information and advocacy services.