The payments will provide for lost income of up to $300 per day up to a total of up to $6000 per person. These payments are tax free and will not be means-tested.
For most, this will represent the equivalent of at least 20 days’ emergency leave for employees of small and medium sized businesses and volunteers who are self employed.
The payments are only available to NSW residents who have volunteered as part of an operational response to bushfires for more than 10 days since 1 July 2019.
The Australian Government will cover the costs of the grant payments. The NSW Government will administer the payments.
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the NSW Government has a strong record of standing side by side with RFS volunteers, many of whom have been on the front line fighting fires for weeks, and in some cases, months.
“The NSW Government already provides unlimited paid leave to all state public service employees who volunteer with the RFS or the other emergency services.
“We are now pleased to provide administrative support to the Commonwealth to compensate our brave volunteers for loss of income.”
Learn more about the support available from the Australian Government.
