Fact sheets

Tsunami Recovery Assistance Package

Support and assistance is available for Australians affected by the Tsunami and their families through the December 2004 - Tsunami Recovery Assistance Package.

The initial package includes assistance for eligible Australians with:

  • reuniting hospitalised survivors with their families in Australia,
  • costs associated with estate management for deceased or missing Australians,
  • funeral and associated costs, and
  • out-of-pocket healthcare costs, including counselling.

Immediately after the Tsunami, the Australian Government provided assistance with costs of domestic travel within Australia and returning to Australia, in exceptional circumstances.

Additional assistance to support up to four immediate family members of deceased Australians to attend First Anniversary commemorations is now available. The Thai Government has also announced assistance. For further information please call the Tsunami Assistance Hotline on 1800 057 111 (FreeCALL™)

Fact sheets

Financial Assistance and Personal Support: General Information December 2004 Tsunami Recovery Assistance - RTF [363kb] | PDF [31kb]

Healthcare costs: Information about assistance with Tsunami-related healthcare costs in Australia - RTF [361kb] | PDF [27kb]

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Information to help return to work

CRS Australia provides rehabilitation programs for people with injuries, disabilities and health conditions. If you have been injured or affected by the December 2004 Tsunami, CRS Australia may be able to help you return to work or live more independently.

CRS Australia staff are experts in disability, injury and health conditions, and how these impact upon a person’s ability to work or live independently.

If you or a family member have been affected by the Tsunami and are:

  • experiencing difficulties returning to work,
  • unable to return to your previous job as a result of your injuries or disability, or
  • experiencing difficulties in coping with day-to-day activities,

then phone the Centrelink Tsunami Assistance Hotline 1800 057 111 (FreeCALL™).

Fact sheet

Help to return to work following the Tsunami - RTF [359kb] | PDF [24kb]

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Help to cope better

Following the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, people may have experienced situations, read or watched media reports that were distressing or threatening.

People who readily use formal and informal support from family, friends or other support organisations are generally found to recover better from stressful situations. Most people will recover with access to information and support. Sharing fact sheets on this website with family and friends may help you, and help them to better support you.

You are encouraged to make use of your GP, clergy, 24-hour telephone help lines or specialist counselling and support services available by contacting the Tsunami Assistance hotline on 1800 057 111 (FreeCALL™). Recovery from exposure to traumatic events is often helped by talking it over with others - prevention is better than cure.

Fact sheets

Tips for looking after yourself - RTF (356kb) | PDF (21kb)

Supporting people affected by disaster - RTF (358kb) | PDF (24kb)

How disaster affects everyone - RTF (345kb) | PDF (25kb)

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These fact sheets are intended as a guide to help people deal with traumatic events, they are not substitutes for seeking professional help.

The Australian Government acknowledges the assistance of Dr Rob Gordon, Clinical Psychology, consultant to the State Emergency Recovery Unit, Victorian Department of Human Services and Emeritus Professor Beverley Raphael, Psychiatrist and Director, NSW Mental Health in preparing this material.

Information for teachers and students

For international students affected by the Indian Ocean Tsunami

The Department of Education, Science and Training including Australian Education International (AEI) is working with education institutions to provide advice and support to international students.

Initial information is available from the Study in Australia site and will be updated on a regular basis.

Tsunami resource materials for schools

Following the Indian Ocean tsunami, Emergency Management Australia has worked closely with education, disaster and emergency management experts from around Australia to develop new material to explain the recent disaster and to support staff and students who may have been affected by the events. 

Tsunami resource materials for schools are available from the Emergency Management Australia site.

Tsunami Education Kit for teachers

AusAID's Global Education Program supports the professional development of primary and secondary teachers across Australia and funds the development and production of curriculum material for use in Australian Schools.

In order to support the desire to understand the causal factors and the long term consequences of the disaster, World Vision, the Australian Red Cross and AusAID have put together this schools kit. The kit goes beyond the immediate disaster and examines how the disaster fits with bigger picture issues of poverty, development and aid.

The Tsunami Education Kit for teachers is available from the Global Education site.

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Immigration information

The Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs has visa information for people in Australia affected by the Tsunami in the Indian Ocean, including:

  • Australia citizens and permanent residents who wish to sponsor foreign nationals from tsunami affected areas, and
  • visitors to Australia from tsunami affected areas temporarily in Australia.