As an initiative under the ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy to better support the wellbeing, resilience and recovery of people with disability, their families, and carers, the ACT Government is providing an additional $40,000 to provide some relief to the  challenges people with disability and their family carers are facing during this lockdown. The funding is to assist with bills, meals, access to IT, respite, cleaning and connecting with the community.

Below is some further information regarding the Respite Effect and Recovery Grants that you might like to share.

Have you applied for a Respite Effect and Recovery Grant yet?

Are you a person with disability, or a family carer? Have you experienced increased financial pressures, a loss of regular activities, and/or increased social isolation as a result of COVID-19?

The ACT COVID-19 Disability Strategy is offering an additional round of Respite Effect and Recovery Grants to provide financial support as a one-off payment, of up to $250, to adults and children with disability and their family carers. These Grants provide the opportunity for families of people with disability to reduce the impact of COVID-19 and to assist with community recovery.

Already under this program 368 applicants have been approved over $179,000 in supports. This funding has supported people with disability and their families to reduce the impact of COVID-19 by providing help for things like paying bills, or purchasing technology that increases their connection to friends and family. Please note, people who have received Respite Effect and Recovery Grant funding in previous rounds are ineligible to apply again.

We have a range of community partners (see list below) who can process your application and if you already know them you won’t need to reidentify your experience of disability or as a carer.  You can contact these agencies and they can assist you to complete the application form and ensure that it gets processed.

Each of these agencies also provides support to people through challenging times and may be able to assist you with other supports- so reach out.

Our community partners in this work are

• ADACAS
• Advocacy for Inclusion
• Women with Disability ACT
• Australian Red Cross
• Meridian
• Carers ACT
• Communities at Work
• The Multicultural Hub
• Woden Community Services
• Capital Region Community Services.

All contact details are on the application form and guidelines (attached).

Applications close when funding is exhausted, and funding will be provided using a non-competitive approach – so apply today!

For more information and to apply for assistance, visit a participating organisation, or see the Community Services Directorate website.