Disaster Assist
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CRS Australia provides rehabilitation programs for people with injuries, disabilities and illnesses. If you have been injured or affected by the Bali tragedy, CRS Australia may be able to help you return to work or live more independently.
The staff of CRS Australia have expert knowledge about disability, injury and health conditions, and how they impact upon a person’s ability to work or live independently.
If you or a family member have been affected by the Bali disaster and are:
The Australian Government has announced that it will assist Bali disaster survivors with their medical and healthcare expenses. The Balimed Guidelines outlines health care assistance for people affected by the Bali tragedy.
The Medicare Australia (formerly the Health Insurance Commission) has established a toll-free number to advise Bali survivors and their families on health care assistance. Call 1800 660 026 for further information.
You can also refer to Department of Health and Ageing's website for more information.
In June 2004 Australian Red Cross completed distribution of all funds allocated to assist affected Australians from the Bali Appeal fund. All remaining domestic funds were distributed to Australians with longer term needs.
Australian Red Cross has worked closely with Australian Government agencies (Centrelink, Health Insurance Commission, and CRS Australia) to ensure support continues to be available for Australian victims and families now that Bali Appeal funds have been fully distributed.
In the first few months of 2004 Australian Red Cross caseworkers assisted all individuals and families who indicated a need for ongoing support in their smooth transition from the Australian Red Cross to Australian Government assistance. Australian Red Cross caseworkers have now completed this work and the casework service has closed.
If you require information about assistance already provided to you by Australian Red Cross please contact the ARC National Office on (03) 9345 1800.
A Fact Sheet and further information about the completed distribution of funds and the other appeal funded activities can be found at the Australian Red Cross website.
In response to the Bali tragedy, the Australian Government announced that it would provide A$300,000 in emergency assistance through Australia’s aid program.
That assistance was given in the form of cash grants to the Indonesian Red Cross and other local groups involved in responding to the medical emergency and for the procurement of essential medical supplies, which began arriving in Bali on 16 October 2002.
The aid program also funded a team to prepare inventories and assist with the distribution of donations of medical supplies and equipment. The Australian Government worked closely with the emergency management centre, set up by the Indonesian Ministry of Health, and also with other donors to coordinate assistance and ensure it was appropriately directed.
Bali's health system and Sanglah Hospital performed very creditably during the crisis, and many lives were saved as a result. Nevertheless, the tragedy highlighted a number of areas of the health system where international assistance could make a difference.
The Australian Government committed to fund a $10.5 million package of health initiatives for the Balinese people to provide a memorial to those 88 Australians killed in the atrocity. The package recognised the close bond felt by many Australians with Bali and honours the memory of those killed with a living, practical memorial.
The assistance delivered through the Australian aid program to Indonesia, included: