These guidelines relate to the $200 Individual Power Outage Support Grant - Far West Region Oct 2024.
1. Introduction
The NSW Government is offering financial support to individuals in the Far West of NSW impacted by the major electrical outage from the Far West Region Storm from 17 October 2024 (AGRN 1149).
The severe storm destroyed seven Transgrid transmission towers and caused significant disruption to the supply of electricity to the remote communities of Broken Hill, Tibooburra, Wilcannia, Menindee, White Cliffs and other surrounding communities.
These funds will be available to impacted individuals to provide relief for the associated costs borne of the power outage.
Service NSW is administering this grant as the Administering Agency for the NSW Premier’s Department who is the Policy Owner.
This grant is being administered in accordance with the requirements of the NSW Grants Administration Guide (GAG). Service NSW and the NSW Premier’s Department are jointly responsible for compliance with the GAG.
2. Purpose and Objectives
2.1 The purpose of the $200 Individual Power Outage Support Grant – Far West Region Oct 2024 (Program) is to support individuals affected by the Disaster Event.
2.2 Under the Program, Eligible Applicants directly impacted by the Disaster Event on 17 October 2024 will be provided with financial support.
2.2 Payments under this Program are intended as one-off payments for Eligible Applicants to help with the out-of-pocket expenses incurred as a result of the Disaster Event.
3. Available Funding
3.1 Funding Source
- The Program is being funded by the NSW Government and Transgrid.
3.2 Available Payment
- A one-off payment of $200 will be made to individuals who meet the Eligibility Criteria outlined in clause 4.
4. Eligibility Criteria
4.1 To be eligible, the applicant must be an individual, 18 years or older on 17 October 2024, and
- Be residing in the Impacted Area on 17 October 2024, at the time of the Disaster Event, or
- Be in a Fly-In-Fly-Out (FIFO) work arrangement on 17 October 2024, and such arrangement requires you to live and work in the Impacted Area, even where your primary place of residence is outside of the Impacted Area.
5. Administrative Arrangements
5.1 Timeframes and Key Dates
- Applications for the Program will be accepted from 7 November 2024.
- Applications will close on 31 March 2025.
5.2 Application Process and Requirements
a. Applications must be submitted via:
i. your MyServiceNSW Account on the Service NSW website or mobile application; or
ii. in person at a Service NSW Centre, Mobile Service Centre or any other centre that is authorised to receive applications, for example a Recovery Assistance Point.
NOTE: Applicants must fully complete the application and submit all requisite documentation as stated on the application before the application close date set out in clause 5.1(b).
b. All applicants must:
i. provide personal contact details (name, email and phone number); and
ii. provide a proof of identity document which includes your full name and date of birth; and
iii. provide your Australian bank account details for payment; and
iv. where in a FIFO arrangement, provide a letter from your employer confirming that you were in a FIFO arrangement in the area impacted by the Disaster Event on 17 October 2024, or
v. where you are a resident, provide evidence that you reside at an address impacted by the Disaster Event, this may include;
A. Utility bill issued between 17 June 2024 and 17 October 2024
B. Council rates notice issued between 17 October 2023 and 17 October 2024
C. Copy of residential tenancy agreement current as of 17 October 2024
D. Vehicle registration notice issued between 17 October 2023 and 17 October 2024
E. Letter from Centrelink, Medicare, Service NSW, Transport for NSW, Australian Taxation Office, or other government agency issued between 17 June 2024 and 17 October 2024
F. Pensioner Concession card, Health Care card or Commonwealth Seniors Health Care card current as of 17 October 2024
NOTE: Please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 should you be unable to provide any of the above documentation
5.3 Applicants must declare the information provided in the application is true and correct. Penalties may apply for false or misleading information. Where false or misleading information is provided, applications may be referred to law enforcement.
5.4 Applicants must retain and provide on request, for a minimum of 24 months following the closing of the program, all documentation and evidence related to eligibility and the application requirements outlined in these guidelines.
5.5 Support in making an application can be provided by contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88, or by visiting a Service NSW Service Centre, Mobile Service Centre or any other centre that is authorised to receive applications, for example a Recovery Assistance Point.
6. Assessment, Approval Process and Decision Makers
6.1 Service NSW Assessment Officers will assess complete applications in the order in which they are lodged. Incomplete applications will not enter the assessment queue until all required information is provided. Applications may be saved and submitted when complete.
6.2 Applications will be assessed and decided by Service NSW Assessment Officers and the Assessment Team against the eligibility criteria in these guidelines.
6.3 Service NSW may request further information as necessary to assess an application. Failure to comply with such request may lead to an application being declined.
6.4 Service NSW or its agents may conduct site visits to assess the applicant’s eligibility and conduct compliance activities. For example, to assess that the dwelling is situated on the residential lot as per the application.
6.5 Service NSW reserves the right to refuse an application where eligibility criteria are not met, or where the applicant does not or cannot provide sufficient information to determine if eligibility criteria have been met.
6.6 Applications submitted may be subject to audit activities by Service NSW or its agents, the purpose of which will be to determine compliance with program guidelines and terms and conditions.
6.7 The Executive Director, Emergency Management, NSW Premier’s Department, is the designated decision-maker. The decision-maker is responsible for making determinations regarding grant criteria and policy intent. This includes approving program-wide policies and processes for assessment, risk management, quality assurance and auditing, and escalation of any compliance issues.
7. Disputes and Complaints
7.1 Applicants are entitled to dispute the assessment outcome of the application by requesting an internal review of the assessment. Disputes can be lodged via the Service NSW website, in person at a Service NSW centre or by contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88.
7.2 Applicants disputing the assessment outcome of the application are entitled to an internal review of the application. Applications for an internal review must be made within 28 calendar days of being notified of the outcome. Disputes lodged after this time may not be accepted by Service NSW.
7.3 The internal review will be conducted by a separate Service NSW team who will review the application against the eligibility criteria, including any new evidence that the applicant may provide.
7.4 Applicants may also lodge complaints via the Service NSW website, in person at a Service NSW centre or by contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88. Service NSW will manage complaints in accordance with the Service NSW Complaints Handling Policy.
8. Important Information
8.1 These guidelines are correct at the time of publishing.
8.2 The NSW Premier’s Department and Service NSW reserve the right to amend, alter or change these guidelines at any time, and it is the responsibility of the applicant to check the relevant website prior to application. All iterations of the grant guidelines and the dates of publication will be available on the Service NSW website.
8.3 The guidelines that apply to your application will be the guidelines that are current at the time your application is assessed by Service NSW.
8.4 Service NSW and the NSW Premier’s Department may share applicant information with other NSW Government agencies, including:
- De-identified disclosure of program statistics on Tableau. This is disclosed to NSW Treasury, NSW Reconstruction Authority, NSW Public Works, Department of Communities and Justice, the Audit Office of NSW, the Cabinet Office, the National Emergency Management Agency – Cth, Services Australia – Cth, and the Department of Customer Service (DCS) for the purpose of analysis and research.
- Identified disclosure of suspected cases of fraud to the NSW Police as a part of Service NSW’s obligations under the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).
- Disclosure of personal information to Revenue NSW if Service NSW has reasons to believe a contravention of payment conditions has taken place, or so that payments may be recovered.
8.5 Funding used other than in accordance with this Guideline and the Terms and Conditions will be repayable on demand.
9. Evaluation
9.1 The NSW Premier’s Department may carry out an evaluation of the program. This may include carrying out surveys. Service NSW may contact you to ask you about your experience with the assistance you received.
9.2 Service NSW and the NSW Premier’s Department will treat survey responses as confidential and use the information only for the purposes for which it was collected.
10. Definitions
10.1 Terms or expressions starting with a capital letter have the meaning given in this section.
10.2 Defined Terms
Administering Agency means the responsible agency/department/body for assessing and administering the Program.
Disaster Event means the Far West Region Storms on 17 October 2024 and onwards as described under Disaster Declaration AGRN 1149.
Eligible Applicant means a person who meets the eligibility criteria outlined in clause 4.1.
FIFO means a work arrangement where employees are flown into a remote worksite for a specific period usually followed by a break period spent at their primary residence. Workers are typically provided with food, accommodation and recreation facilities while on-site.
Grants Administration Guide (GAG) is a mandated NSW Government guide which provides an overview of the grants administration process, overarching principles that apply to all NSW Government grants, and mandatory requirements that must be complied with when administering grants. Since gazettal, compliance with the Guide has been a legal requirement under the Government Sector Finance Act 2018 (NSW) (GSF Act).
Impacted Area means areas affected by the Disaster Event specified in the AGRN 1149, and the town of Cockburn, South Australia.
Policy Owner means the NSW Premier’s Department. The Policy Owner is responsible for grant design including overseeing development and approval of the eligibility criteria, assessment and compliance methodologies, and grant evaluation.
Program has the meaning given in clause 2.1.