CONTENT COURTESY SUPPORT ACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has created intense financial hardship for artists, crew and music workers from all genres. Many of you were the first to lose your jobs and your income, and our sector could well be the last to recover.
With funding from the Australian Government through the Office for the Arts, Support Act is offering Crisis Relief grants to music industry professionals impacted by COVID-19. This includes musicians, crew, and music workers who have been or are unable to access government benefits due to eligibility or other issues; or who have been able to access government benefits but are still facing financial hardship.
Support Act provides support to those who are suffering financial hardship as a result of injury, ill health, or a mental health issue that is managed through a current Mental Health plan.
To be eligible for a Crisis Relief grant, you must:
- be an Australian citizen, permanent resident or have a valid working visa;
- prove that you have been working in the music industry for three years;
- provide names and details of two professional referees;
- have household expenses which are greater than your household income.
Support Act provides financial support in the areas of rent/mortgage, food, utilities, medical equipment and costs. It may also offer support that is not financial, or refer you to other services.
To find out more and to apply for a COVID-19 Crisis Relief grant, please visit the Get Help page on the Support Act website. For assistance with your application, please call 1300 731 303.
For mental health advice and support, the Support Act Wellbeing Helpline is available 24/7 by calling 1800 959 500.
READ: How does Support Act benefit Australian artists?
Support Act launched its 24/7 Wellbeing Helpline in 2019. To raise awareness for the occasion, we teamed up with the Arts Wellbeing Collective and composer and CutCommon Opinions Editor Rachel Bruerville. Rachael wrote about the importance of valuing mental health in the Australian arts industry. You can read her powerful story here.
Featured image by Oscar Keys on Unsplash.
