Emergency relief support
About our Emergency Relief
We understand that people on temporary visas can face unexpected challenges and financial hardship. Australian Red Cross provides limited emergency relief to people on temporary visas who are experiencing financial hardship and vulnerability.
Emergency relief is a small one-off payment to help people meet their basic needs like food, medicine or shelter.
We have limited funding and we receive a high number of applications from across Australia. For this reason, we must prioritise support for people with the least access to income, services, and support networks.
Eligibility guidelines
Who may be eligible
You may be eligible if:
- You hold a temporary visa.
- Are over 18 years of age.
- You are living in Australia.
- You meet our financial hardship threshold and experiencing vulnerability (e.g., unable to meet basic needs such as food, housing, or medical care).
Please note that New Zealand citizens are not eligible as they have broader access to services and work rights in Australia.
What we consider in our assessment
To make fair and consistent decisions, we look at several factors, including:
- Your visa conditions (e.g., work rights and access to government support).
- Your ability to earn income or access other financial support.
- Your English language proficiency and ability to navigate services.
- Whether you have family, community, or other support networks in Australia.
- The overall impact of your circumstances on your health and wellbeing.
Who is less likely to be eligible
Based on available funding and program priorities, people who hold certain visas may not meet the threshold for financial hardship and vulnerability.
You may not be eligible if you:
- Have work rights and the ability to support yourself (e.g., skilled, student and working holiday visa holders).
- You were granted a visa based on evidence that you can support yourself during your stay (e.g., visitor visa holders)
We acknowledge that anyone can face difficulty, however, this program is designed to assist people who have very limited options for support due to situations such as their visa conditions, isolation, or other barriers.
Why is eligibility so restricted?
Our emergency relief program is small and largely funded internally by Red Cross, although we do have small Government funded programs in Victoria and Western Australia. We aim to help as many people as possible, but due to high demand across the country and limited resources, we prioritise people who are in the most vulnerable situations and who have no other support options.
Not sure if you qualify?
If you’re not sure, you can still submit an application. Please note that due to high demand and limited resources, applications that don’t meet the eligibility threshold may not receive support.
How do I apply?
Make sure you have read the Eligibility Guidelines
Information and documentation you need before you start
Identity documents
As of May 2025, Red Cross will be using a Document Verification Service to verify identity. You will need to provide information from one of the following:
- Passport
- Immicard
- Drivers Licence
- Medicare card
Visa details
- Passport number or other travel document number.
- If you are applying for a protection visa, further evidence such as an acknowledgement letter from Immigration or letter from a legal service/support agency.
- If you are unsure or do not have a current visa select ‘uncertain’ and we will contact you for a confidential discussion. Red Cross does not share personal or visa information with the government.
Bank statement with 30-day transaction listing
- You must provide transaction listings over the last 30 days for all bank accounts held by you and your partner (if you have one).
- Transaction listings should include your name, BSB and account name.
- Please download your transaction listings from the banks app or website and upload the pdf to your application – please do not upload screenshots.
If you need help with downloading a statement with a list of transactions download this document.
For your own security, do not upload a credit card statement or a bank statement that contains a credit card number.
Submitting the above information will help us process your application as quickly as possible. If we need to ask you for missing information, this will delay the process.
To start, we'll check you are eligible for Red Cross emergency relief. If you are eligible, you will be able to apply.
I need help now
- If your health or safety is in danger now, call 000.
- 13 11 14 - Lifeline Crisis Support
- 1800 737 732 (1800 RESPECT) – Family & Domestic Violence
- If you are currently experiencing Family and Domestic Violence, please visit our Family and domestic violence financial assistance page »
- 1800 55 1800 - Kids Helpline
- DSS Service Directory – search for DSS Emergency Relief providers in your area (theres a link behind DSS Service Directory)
- AskIzzy – search for support by suburb
- If you can access your savings, or support from home, please do so.
- If you think you or someone you know is being exploited at work in Australia, help is available. Visit our Work Right Hub »
Information for service providers
Service providers can help a person to apply via the online portal.
If you are supporting someone to apply, do not use your work email address; applications must be made using the applicant’s personal email. If the client does not currently have an email address, please support them to open a new one.
Contact us
If you need help, please email grantsupport@redcross.org.au and we will respond to you as soon as we can.
