Supporting families in Wurrumiyanga after Cyclone Fina
Families in the Tiwi Islands community of Wurrumiyanga continue to receive support following the impact of Cyclone Fina last month.
Families in the Tiwi Islands community of Wurrumiyanga continue to receive support following the impact of Cyclone Fina last month. Welfare Group staff, together with volunteers from Northern Territory Government agencies and the Australian Red Cross, have been on the ground helping households recover.
As part of the Territory’s coordinated welfare response, we have been working alongside our partners to provide relief payments, practical assistance and wellbeing support to affected families. Teams from our department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Community Development, and the Australian Red Cross visited eligible households throughout the week to deliver payments and assess recovery needs.
Power and water services on the island have now been fully restored, following earlier damage and repair assessments. The Welfare Group continues to provide Immediate Relief Payments, assess eligibility for further support, and ensure families feel safe and connected during recovery.
Households that experienced power outages longer than 72 hours may be eligible for a $250 Immediate Relief Payment, along with additional assistance to replace essential items under the Northern Territory and Australian Government Disaster Relief Funding Arrangements.
The Australian Red Cross is working closely with us to support community wellbeing at every stage. Recovery centres remain an essential point of connection, offering clear information, emotional support and guidance to anyone needing help after the cyclone.
To date, more than 1,800 people from over 900 households have been assisted through the Welfare Recovery Centres. This includes 340 Immediate Relief Payments and over $10,000 in food vouchers provided to families in need through the support of Mission Australia and the Multicultural Council of the NT.
