Emergency Relief is the provision of financial or material assistance to people experiencing a financial crisis. Individuals or families may access emergency relief to help them through a ‘one-off’ episode; while for others, emergency relief becomes part of their experience of dealing with ongoing financial disadvantage. The aim of emergency relief is to assist people experiencing financial crisis in a way that maintains dignity and fosters empowerment.

Assistance usually comprises:

  • The provision of financial or material aid to meet an immediate need – chemist vouchers, assistance with paying bills, food vouchers, food parcels, clothing, or household goods.
  • Information and referrals that may help to resolve the underlying causes of a financial crisis.

WA's Community Relief Sector

More than 300 agencies and their outlets across the state.

Funding from State and Federal Government Departments, agency revenue, philanthropic sources and public donations.

Supported by both paid workers and volunteer providers.

Providers range from small volunteer run services to large multi-program organisations.

The Program

The Community Relief and Resilience Program exists to coordinate policy and sector support to services who provide material and financial assistance to people living in hardship in Western Australia.

The Program aims to:

  • Increased networking opportunities to support relationship building.
  • Improve understanding of issues related to ER service delivery across WA.
  • Increase information sharing about service demand and trends.
  • Increase knowledge of relevant services across WA.
  • Improve access to workforce development opportunities for the CRR sector.
  • Encouraged relationship building across sectors including government, funding bodies and community services.

Sector Support

If you are a volunteer or provider of emergency relief or charity food services, visit the CRR Sector Hub to access free resources and be part of the network of community organisations supporting individuals and families in Western Australia.

Policy Representation

Through the Program WACOSS lead collective policy and advocacy to improve outcomes for the community relief and resilience sector and people accessing these services. Committees such as the State Emergency Relief Committee and Fair Food WA advise WACOSS of issues impacting the sector and what changes are needed to address policy, funding and systems challenges. A range of relevant submissions are available in the WACOSS Policy Library.

Major Supporter

The Community Relief and Resilience Program and Forum would not be possible without the generous support of Lotterywest.