by Mandy Stone
General Manager - Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre


One of the most important services the Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre offers, and one that hits closest to home for many, is the provision of Emergency Relief for those in our community who need financial help.

The Emergency Relief Program provides grants to a range of religious community and charitable organisations such as the Neighbourhood Centre with the purpose of providing emergency financial assistance to individuals and families in financial crisis.

The program can give relief in a crisis in a way that maintains the recipient's dignity and encourages self reliance. Neighbourhood Centre Emergency Relief staff are expected to assist clients in a manner which empowers.

The program provides a number of different types of aid including:

Food vouchers;
Food parcels;
Fuel vouchers;
Transport vouchers;
Assistance toward payment of outstanding electricity accounts;
Assistance with cost of medication;
Assistance with material aid re children such as shoes, etc;
Assistance with medical procedures; and
Material aid,  such as furniture, clothing, from the NicNak Shed.

Priority is given to matters of safety, food, housing, essential utilities, medical and children’s needs, and Emergency Relief assistance may be given three times in a twelve month  period.

The number of people in the Port Douglas area that seek help may surprise. in 2010 alone, 343 clients came to the centre for Emergency Relief assistance and 294 came for financial advice and assistance.

Just today I had a couple in for assistance who were very embarrassed about asking for help.

This was the first time in their lives they had ever asked for emergency relief, they had always worked in the hospitality industry, but the work has really dried up. Since Christmas they have had just two days of work.

They did not immediately apply for Centrelink benefits as they presumed that they would get work. However they did not, and the Centrelink process is slow especially at this time due to the floods in South East Queensland.

We were able to assist these people with food vouchers. This is a short term band aid, we know that. But knowing that you and your kids have something to eat for the next week does reduces your stress level.

We encourage you, if you have financial problems, come and talk to us at the centre. There are a number of ways we can help.

We have a financial literacy educator to assist you with financial issues, we can put community members in touch with Lifeline Financial Counsellors, we have a No Interest Loan Scheme which can assist those community members on Centrelink benefits to purchase essential household items, and we can also put people in touch with the Step Up loan scheme which lends people on low incomes up to $3,000.

So never feel embarrassed to ask for help as more and more people are seeking our services. We are discrete, professional, and will work with you to achieve the best outcome for you and your family.

The Port Douglas Neighbourhood Centre can be contacted by phoning 4099 5518.