ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) and the ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) volunteers will be able to claim financial support for loss of income from service during the recent bushfires season.
“Our volunteers work tirelessly and professionally to help the Canberra community and ask for nothing in return,” Minister for Police and Emergency Services Mick Gentleman commented “The ACT Government has worked to secure them the same support being offered to our NSW colleagues by the Federal Government. These support payments will help ensure volunteers who are self-employed or working for small businesses are not left significantly out-of-pocket”
Minister Gentleman pointed out that it is estimated that around 200 applicants across the ACTRFS and ACTSES will qualify for payments of up to $6000. The Federal Government has agreed to apply the same NSW eligibility criteria to ACT volunteers.
The Minister went on to explain that the Volunteer Firefighters’ Financial Support Program is funded by the Federal Government. Volunteers will be notified about how to make an application through the ESA website and internal communications channels. Payments will cover the period from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.