Country Women's Association - Emergency Aid Grants
* Due to high demand, Emergency Aid Grants are no longer available in some states as funds have been expended and no further assistance is available at this stage.
On 25 May 2007, the Australian Government announced that it would provide an extra $8 million to the Country Women’s Association (CWA) to distribute emergency aid grants to fund community based activities and to meet immediate household needs of rural families in drought affected areas.
This is in addition to the $4 million already provided, and has been available since 1 July 2007.
Community grants of up to $3000 are available to community groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations to help meet the costs of holding events and providing support to drought affected communities. Examples include community events, excursions or information sessions. Grants can also be used to fund support packs, pamper packs, or to maintain community facilities where there is a wide community benefit.
Individual grants of up to $2000 per household are available to drought affected families in rural areas. This includes farmers, farming dependent contractors, service providers and local rural businesses. The grants are available to help meet essential household expenses and other basic necessities.
Eligibility Requirements
Community groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations should demonstrate a wide benefit to the community or, where the grant is to maintain community facilities, that the upkeep is usually dependent on fundraising.
People applying for individual grants must show that their primary source of income has suffered as a direct result of the drought. People may apply more than once and rural families in receipt of other drought assistance are not excluded from applying.
Need is assessed by the CWA against nationally agreed assessment criteria.
For more information and to apply
Application forms may be obtained by contacting CWA State Head Offices and local branches or by downloading from State CWA websites as listed below.
- National or contact by phone 03 6426 7235
- * New South Wales or phone 02 9358 2923
- Queensland or phone 07 3026 1219
- * Victoria or phone 03 9827 8971
- * South Australia or phone 08 8332 4166
- * Western Australia or phone 08 9321 6041
- Tasmania or phone 03 6231 3706
- Northern Territory: email cwaofnt@bigpond.com or phone/fax 08 8941 3305
Country Women’s Association emergency family and community grants fact sheet 
PDF [124kb]
