In an emergency
If you are in an area affected by a natural disaster, listen to the instructions given by emergency services. Your local ABC radio will often play important messages.
If the situation is life threatening, call 000 immediately.
For non-life-threatening bushfire, flood and storm emergency help during severe weather events, contact your State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 or see:
Note that demand on SES during a severe weather event is huge, so you might have to wait after calling for non-life-threatening assistance.
Health supports for flood-affected Australians
Medical treatment or advice
If you need medical attention or medicine after natural disaster, contact your local:
- general practitioner (GP)
- pharmacy
- Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS).
If they are closed, you can find a health service through:
- staff in evacuation centres
- healthdirect’s health service finder.
To speak with a registered nurse 24/7, call healthdirect on 1800 022 222, or call 13 HEALTH (13 43 26 58) if you are in Queensland. Depending on your symptoms you may be connected virtually to a GP.
If you need urgent help from police, fire or ambulance services, call triple zero (000).
We provide temporary healthcare professionals (locums) when emergency weather events force medical practices or pharmacies to close. This helps ensure people can get the health care they need.
Telehealth appointments
If you are in a designated disaster area, you can access Medicare-subsidised telehealth services from any general practice.
Although you would normally need to have an existing relationship with your general practitioner, if you are in a declared natural disaster area, you are exempt for the duration of that declaration. See information on areas that have been declared a natural disaster.
Urgent Care Clinics
You can walk into any Medicare Urgent Care Clinic in Australia for bulk billed urgent care.
Prescription medicine
Pharmacists can call your doctor to make sure you can still get the prescription medicines you need, even if your script has been lost or damaged during the event.
In some cases, you can get the prescription medicine you need without a script.
Under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Continued Dispensing Arrangements, a pharmacist can provide one supply of eligible medicine(s) without a prescription in a 12-month period.
This can happen when there is an immediate need for the medicine, but the PBS prescriber either can’t:
- be contacted
- provide an electronic PBS prescription or owing prescription.
Find out more about how the PBS supports Australians affected by natural disasters and emergencies.
Prescriptions and telehealth appointments
If you have a telehealth appointment, your GP can send a prescription electronically by SMS or email. Some GPs can also send the prescription online to your chosen pharmacy.
Mental health advice or support
Experiencing a natural disaster can be stressful and affect your mental health. There are resources to help during this difficult time.
Telephone and online services
To talk to someone, call:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636
- 13YARN (13 92 76), which provides 24/7 crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- MensLine on 1300 78 99 78
- Lifeline Text on 0477 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 (children under 12 years)
- Open Arms – Veteran Family and Counselling on 1800 011 046
- Older Persons Advocacy Network on 1800 700 600.
headspace
headspace provides information for young people about coping with the stress of a natural disaster, including tips for the short and long term.
If you’re a young person aged 12 to 25 years, or supporting a young person in a flood-affected community, you can find a list of walk-in services that are open or call 1800 650 890.
State-funded mental health support
For support in your state or territory, call:
- 1800 011 511 in New South Wales
- 1300 MHCALL (1300 642 255) in Queensland
- 1800 332 388 in Tasmania, between 9 am and 10 pm 7 days a week.
Medicare Mental Health
Medicare Mental Health can connect you with the mental health and wellbeing support you need. You can:
- walk into your nearest Medicare Mental Health Centre for free mental health support
- visit the website for 24-hour free and low-cost phone, online and face-to-face mental health services and supports
- call 1800 595 212 (between 8:30 am and 5 pm weekdays) to speak with a trained professional for information and connection to a local service that best meets your needs.
Medicare rebate for mental health services
The first step to getting Medicare-subsidised mental health support is to get a mental health treatment plan from your GP, which:
- identifies the mental health care you need
- outlines the goals you and your doctor want to achieve.
This will reduce the cost of support from:
- GPs
- psychologists
- social workers
- occupational therapists.
Find out more about the Better Access initiative.
Support in aged care facilities
Aged care providers must maintain quality care to older people during an emergency.
To ensure appropriate support is provided as quickly as possible, aged care providers must follow existing state and local government pathways to request help.
Financial support
If you are directly affected by a natural disaster event, such as floods or storms, financial help is available.
Check your eligibility and how to claim in your state or territory.
Other government recovery help
Australian Government and state-based agencies provide relief and recovery services and support.
See the Disaster Assist website to find out what help is available in your area.
The Moneysmart website has information about recovering financially after a natural disaster.
Talk to your bank about your mortgage repayments and fees. They might be able to help if you’ve experienced a natural disaster.