Eligibility for funding
There is a 2-stage process for applying for funding under the Household Resilience Program.
The first stage is confirming that you meet the eligibility criteria. When you start your application, you will need to provide evidence to support your eligibility.
Check your eligibility here before you start your application.
Homeowner requirements
The term ‘homeowner’ refers to individual people who own a free-standing, detached house. It does not include legal entities, such as trusts, corporations or businesses. It also does not include a building, unit or apartment that forms part of a strata title or community titles scheme.
To be eligible to apply, you must meet all these criteria:
- live in the identified cyclone risk area (within 50km of the coastline between Bundaberg and the Queensland/Northern Territory border)
- own or be the mortgagor of a house built before 1984
- live in the home as your primary place of residence
- meet the income eligibility requirements
- not have received funding under a previous phase of this program.
Income requirements
To be eligible, the yearly gross income of your total household must be less than these income limits:
- 1 adult – $61,322
- 2 adults – $84,782
- 3 adults – $108,242
- 4 adults – $131,702
- Sole parent with 1 child – $84,841
- Sole parent with 2 children – $105,184
- Sole parent with 3 children – $125,527
- Couple with 1 child – $105,125
- Couple with 2 children – $125,468
- Couple with 3 children – $145,811.
These weekly allowances also apply:
- $391 for each additional child ($20,343 per year)
- $451 for each additional adult ($23,460 per year).
Note:
- These figures are based on the 2024/25 National Rental Affordability Scheme.
- Income levels are assessed on the total income for a household, not individuals within the household.
Eligible improvement works
Works must be completed on existing structures to meet the program objectives of increasing cyclone resilience for homes built before 1984.
Cyclone resilience improvement works covered by the program include:
- external solid core doors
- external structures
- garage doors
- over-batten system
- roof replacement
- window protection .
Ineligible types of works
Works that aren’t eligible for funding include:
- renovations, extensions, or new structures
- works to structures or buildings that are not deemed compliant
- works to homes on rented land
- works to homes relocated after 1984
- restumping of a house
- roof re-nail/re-screw
- partial roof replacement
- wall cladding
- repair of pre-existing damage.
This not an exhaustive list, but a guide only. Contact us on (07) 3007 4485 (option 1) or at strongerhomes@epw.qld.gov.au to discuss your specific circumstances.
Additionally, you can’t use program funding in conjunction with insurance claims. You can apply for funding only for improvement works not covered by an insurance claim.
Eligible geographic areas
Under the Household Resilience Program, your home must be located in part of ‘Cyclone Region C’ (in line with the Australian Cyclone Rating System and the National Construction Code).
The geographic area for the project is up to 50km from the coast north from Bundaberg up to Cape York and west to the Queensland/Northern Territory border.
So, for example, the Bundaberg Regional Council area is in this area, which means that homeowners in Childers and Woodgate may be eligible.
However, the Fraser Coast Regional Council area is outside the Cyclone Region C area and is not eligible.
Timeframe
After we receive your application, it may take approximately 1 month to assess your eligibility and confirm the outcome via email.
If your eligibility is confirmed, you’re ready to move on to getting quotes (Stage 2.)
Next steps:
Contacts
For more information about the Household Resilience Program:
- phone: (07) 3007 4485 (option 1)
- email: strongerhomes@epw.qld.gov.au