About the Household Resilience Program
Phase 4 is now open!
In June 2023, the Australian Government provided an additional $20 million in funding for Phase 4 of the program.
Grants are restricted to 1 per household. If you received funding in previous phases, you will not be eligible to receive funding under Phase 4.
Funding is limited, and grants will be awarded until the funding capacity is met.
The Household Resilience Program assists eligible homeowners in coastal parts of Central and Northern Queensland to improve the resilience of their homes against cyclones.
Owner-occupiers who live in a house built before 1984 and are located within 50 kilometres of the coastline from Bundaberg, north to Cape York and west to the Queensland/Northern Territory border, can apply to receive a Queensland Government grant of 80% of the cost of improvements (up to a maximum grant value of $15,000, including GST).
The program is funded by the Australian Government, and administered by the Queensland Government Department of Housing and Public Works.
Read more about the program on this page and then check your eligibility for funding.
Benefits of the program
The Household Resilience Program benefits homeowners, contractors and businesses in areas of regional Queensland.
In previous phases, more than 400 businesses have been engaged to complete works. Most contractors have been sourced directly from the local community.
Homeowners who previously participated in the program have also benefited. They have reported:
- cost of living benefits – opportunities created for downward pressure on insurance premiums
- security benefits – feeling more secure in their homes and better prepared for a severe weather event or cyclone.
Eligible improvement works
Specific improvement works are eligible under the Household Resilience Program.
These works must be completed on existing structures to meet the program objectives of increasing cyclone resilience for homes built before 1984.
Extensions to existing structures and replacement of structures are not eligible for grant funding.
Read about the improvement types that are eligible under the program:
- external solid core doors
- external structures
- garage doors
- over-batten system
- roof replacement
- window protection .
How the funding works
Co-contribution arrangement
The Household Resilience Program operates through a co-contribution arrangement.
Funding covers 80% of the costs of eligible household improvement works, up to $15,000 including GST.
Approved homeowners must make a minimum 20% co-contribution towards the works. This is paid directly to the contractor once the work is completed.
Here is an example of how it works:
Maximum grant $15,000 (80%) + Homeowner co-contribution $3,750 (20%)
= Total works cost $18,750
Improvements covered by the program
The minimum value of works eligible for grant funding is $3,300.
The eligible homeowner:
- nominates proposed home improvements from the available options
- provides a quote from a QBCC-licensed contractor.
Our assessors review the quote and visit the site to confirm that the proposed improvements will increase cyclone resilience for a reasonable cost.
Payments
We pay the grant funding directly to the contractor after they complete the approved home improvements satisfactorily. The homeowner then pays the co-contribution amount and any outstanding costs not covered by the grant.
Homeowners may be able to arrange a loan from a financial provider to fund all or part of this cost. Please contact your financial institution.
Next steps
Resources
- Resources – James Cook University
- Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
- Resources - QBCC
- National Construction Code
- Cyclone resilient building guidance for Queensland homes (December 2019) (Queensland Reconstruction Authority)
Factsheets:
- Information for homeowners
- Information for contractors
- Frequently asked questions about Household Resilience Program
Contacts
For more information about the Household Resilience Program:
- phone: (07) 3007 4485 (option 1)
- email: strongerhomes@epw.qld.gov.au