A job loss, a hospital admission or a sudden bill can move a household from managing to not managing within a fortnight. This explains what AusRelief's crisis and emergency support covers, how a request starts, what arrives first, how to refer someone, and how to contribute.

AusRelief's crisis and emergency support gives households in Australia practical help after a sudden change, such as food, care packs, household items and housing support. Here's what it covers, how to ask for help or refer someone, and how supporters keep it running.

Key takeaways

·       AusRelief's crisis support is practical: emergency food and groceries, essential care packs, household items, furniture and home set-up, and housing support.

·       It's for individuals and families facing sudden hardship, financial instability or displacement, including newly arrived refugee families.

·       The starting point is to contact AusRelief directly on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) or [email protected], whether the request is for yourself or someone else.

·       Support extends beyond immediate response, from emergency food and care packs to furniture and home set-up.

·       Government help such as the Services Australia Crisis Payment runs separately and is worth checking at the same time.

·       You can contribute to crisis support through a one-off or monthly donation to Housing and Crisis Support.

What crisis and emergency support covers

Crisis and emergency support covers the essentials a household needs to get through a sudden change and regain stability. According to AusRelief, that includes:

·       emergency food and grocery assistance

·       essential care packs and household items

·       furniture and home set-up support

·       support for newly arrived refugee families

·       crisis support for individuals and families experiencing sudden hardship

·       hot meals and emergency relief support

The support is shaped around the household rather than handed out as a single package. For example, a family moving into a new rental after displacement may need furniture and home set-up, while a household whose income has stopped may need groceries first. And the programme runs alongside AusRelief's other local support, the Grocery Drive Program and women and family support, so the three work side by side in the same community.

On top of individual support, AusRelief also responds to wider community emergencies in Australia. That work has included bushfire relief, flood response across regional NSW and Queensland, sandbag assistance during floods, COVID-19 grocery and hygiene support, and hot meal distribution during emergency response efforts.

Why households reach a crisis point

Most households that ask for crisis support have already been adjusting for a long time. Rent, groceries and utilities have risen steadily for years, so many families were already running a tight budget before anything went wrong. Then one change arrives: a job ends, someone is admitted to hospital, or an unexpected bill lands in the same week as rent. So a household that was managing can reach the end of its options within a fortnight.

That's why the timing of support matters. By the time people ask, they've usually cut back, drawn on savings, and leaned on family and friends. Crisis support is designed for that point, where the household has done what it can and the gap is still there.

How a request for crisis support starts

A request starts with a direct conversation, so the first step is to call 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) or email [email protected]. From there, the team can talk through what has changed and what the household needs now. The support that follows is funded by contributions to crisis and emergency support, given once or monthly by supporters under Housing and Crisis Support.

Families stay in charge of their own situation throughout. They explain what's happening and what would help most, and the support is built around that. AusRelief describes its approach as grounded in dignity and community care, which in practice means the household sets the priorities and the team works to them.

How quickly help arrives

AusRelief's crisis support is about showing up with practical support when people need it most. That starts with emergency food and grocery assistance, essential care packs and hot meals. After that, furniture and home set-up support helps individuals and families regain stability with dignity during a period of transition and rebuilding.

Even so, support extends beyond immediate response. AusRelief's approach is to help individuals and families rebuild stability and remain connected to long-term community support.

Where to get emergency help with bills in Australia

Start by contacting the provider who sent the bill, then check government support alongside charity help. Moneysmart advises contacting your electricity, gas, phone or water provider straight away if you can't pay, since providers can explain hardship options and payment plans. Moneysmart's guidance on urgent help with money also lists free services for food, bills, emergency housing, debt and personal crises, including free financial counselling.

On the government side, Services Australia offers a Crisis Payment, a one-off payment for people in severe financial hardship after an extreme circumstance, such as having to leave home. Its crisis and special help section lists other payments too.

AusRelief's crisis support works alongside these services. It provides practical support such as food, essentials and home set-up, which can take pressure off a household budget while a bill or payment is being sorted.

Type of support	Who provides it	Best first step
Hardship arrangement or payment plan on a bill	Your utility, phone or credit provider	Contact the provider directly
Free financial counselling	Services listed on Moneysmart	Check Moneysmart's urgent help guidance
Crisis Payment and other government help	Services Australia	Check eligibility through Services Australia
Food, care packs, household items, furniture and housing support	AusRelief crisis and emergency support	Call 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357)

 

How to refer someone for crisis assistance

If you know someone who needs support, the simplest step is to contact AusRelief on their behalf, with their agreement. Call 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) or email [email protected], and explain briefly what has changed for the household. You can also share those details so they can make contact themselves, which some people prefer.

In fact, many households first hear about support through someone they already trust, such as a teacher, a support worker, a neighbour or a community leader. That's often easier than approaching an unfamiliar service from scratch. So if you're in that position, passing on a phone number with a few words of reassurance is a practical way to help.

How supporters keep crisis support running

Crisis support depends on funds being ready before a request arrives, because the household can't wait for an appeal to be organised. That's why ongoing contributions matter so much to this work. Anyone can get involved, no matter the amount.

If you want to	Option	How it works
Contribute once	Quick donate	Choose Housing and Crisis Support as your cause
Keep the fund steady	Recurring donation	Set up a regular contribution to local support
Raise funds with others	Fundraising	A workplace, school or family group gives together
Run your own campaign	Start a fundraiser	Set a goal and share your fundraiser with your network
Give your time	Volunteering	Apply to support local programmes, including crisis support

 

Groceries also feed directly into crisis support. Donations collected through AusRelief tubs in Sydney supermarkets supply local programmes, and you can read more about how food relief works through the Grocery Drive.

How you know your support reaches households

AusRelief Limited (ABN 38 600 640 408) is a registered Australian charity, a Public Benevolent Institution and a Deductible Gift Recipient. You can confirm its registration on the ACNC Charity Register, which is public and free to search. The ATO explains how tax deductions for gifts and donations work. On top of that, AusRelief publishes an annual report, and who we are sets out the organisation's leadership and local work.

What steady support makes possible

A crisis rarely ends when the first need is met. When food and essentials are covered, a household can put its attention on the next decision, whether that's finding work, settling a new home or arranging a payment plan. That's a small shift on paper. In practice it gives families room to lead their own recovery.

Crisis support is one of several local projects at AusRelief, and it sits alongside larger responses through emergency appeals when a disaster affects whole communities. When supporters give together, the impact grows, reaching more households, more consistently.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get emergency financial help in Sydney?

Start with AusRelief on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357), which provides crisis support such as emergency food, care packs, household items, furniture and housing support. For bills, contact your provider about a hardship arrangement. Services Australia offers a Crisis Payment for people in severe financial hardship after an extreme circumstance, and Moneysmart lists free financial counselling and urgent help services.

Which charities help Australian households facing a sudden financial crisis?

AusRelief runs crisis and emergency support for individuals and families across Australia facing sudden hardship, financial instability or displacement. Support includes emergency food and groceries, essential care packs, household items, furniture and home set-up, and help for newly arrived refugee families. You can contact AusRelief on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) or [email protected] to ask about support.

How do I refer someone for crisis assistance?

With the person's agreement, call AusRelief on 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) or email [email protected] and explain briefly what has changed for the household. You can also pass those contact details on so they can reach out themselves. Many people first hear about support through someone they trust, so a phone number and a few words of reassurance can help.

How does emergency assistance from an Australian charity actually work?

It usually starts with a conversation about what has changed and what the household needs now. At AusRelief, the first support is often food, groceries, care packs or hot meals, because those needs can't wait. Longer-term help such as household items, furniture and home set-up follows, and families can stay connected to ongoing community support afterwards.

How quickly can I get crisis support from AusRelief?

AusRelief's crisis support is about showing up with practical support when people need it most, so the best step is to call 1300 TO HELP (1300 864 357) and explain your situation. Support starts with emergency food and grocery assistance, essential care packs and hot meals. After that, furniture and home set-up support helps households regain stability with dignity.

Are donations to AusRelief's crisis support tax deductible?

AusRelief Limited is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient and registered as a charity and Public Benevolent Institution. That means eligible donations can be claimed as a tax deduction, subject to the ATO's rules on gifts and donations. You can confirm AusRelief's registration on the ACNC Charity Register, and choose Housing and Crisis Support as your cause when donating.

Want to help keep crisis support ready for the next household that needs it?

Visit crisis and emergency support at ausrelief.org to contribute or find out how to ask for help.