Media Release
Extra Centrelink staff sent to Emerald
22 January 2008
The Minister for Human Services, Senator Joe Ludwig announced today that four Centrelink staff from Rockhampton, including a Social Worker, will arrive in Emerald today to relieve local staff and help provide support to people affected by flooding.
“Centrelink staff in the region are working alongside QLD government and community agencies in Emerald and Charleville to support people through the floods,” Senator Ludwig said.
“The staff sent to Emerald will be based at the local Recovery Centre and Emerald Centrelink.”
“In addition to these extra staff, the Australian Government’s Drought Bus arrived this morning in Charleville. The Drought Bus, which is a mobile office and communication centre, has specialist staff on board, will begin assisting local staff who have been working out of the Charleville Neighbourhood Centre,” Senator Ludwig said.
“Other teams of Centrelink staff are on standby to go to Emerald or Charleville if required.”
Senator Ludwig said “Centrelink will also continue special arrangements today for flood-affected customers in Queensland to ensure they can continue to access welfare payments and other Centrelink services.”
“For customers living in various postcodes in the Emerald, Charleville and Longreach regions Centrelink has organised phone lodgement for the following services: Employment Services; Youth and Students; Family Payments; Retirement and Disability, Sickness & Carers.”
“The temporary arrangements mean customers who are due to lodge their forms in person today can do so over the phone.”
“Centrelink has put in place these special arrangements to ensure customers won’t be affected by the flooding. We will continue to monitor the situation and will advise customers if these temporary arrangements need to be extended,” said Senator Ludwig.
To make form lodgements over the phone or for enquiries, customers should call Centrelink on the relevant phone number below:
| Employment Services | 13 2850 |
| Youth and Students | 13 2490 |
| Family Payments | 13 6150 |
| Retirement | 13 2300 |
| Disability, Sickness & Carers | 13 2717 |
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