Volunteer Firefighters’ Financial Support Program (NSW)

This program aims to support eligible volunteer firefighters who are self-employed or employed by small and medium businesses, and have lost income. It is designed to help volunteer firefighters who have been called out for more than 10 days since 1 July 2019.

Payments of up to $300 per day, with a total cap of $6,000, will be available in the 2019-20 financial year. The payments are tax-free and not means tested.

Applicants can submit more than one application until they reach the $6,000 cap for the 2019–2020 financial year. There is no limit to the number of applications they can make.

Eligible applicants include volunteer firefighters who have lost income and:
- Are registered with the NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) or NSW State Emergency Service (SES).
- Have been volunteering as part of an operational response to bushfires for more than 10 days since 1 July 2019. The days do not need to be consecutive. This can include reasonable travel and recovery time but does not include training or participating in non-emergency operations (for example, hazard reduction burns).
- Are self-employed or employed by a small or medium business (a business with an annual turnover of less than $50 million in the 2018–2019 financial year).

NSW volunteer firefighters who helped in other states can apply for the payment provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

Firefighters are not eligible if they work for:
- A large business. Large businesses have more capacity to support their staff to help the community and are being encouraged to do so.
- Government (state, federal or local).