Emergency Assistance
Emergency Assistance
Tangentyere Council provide a range of services to address financial hardship and the difficulty in the procurement of identification documents experienced by both local and regional community members. The Indigenous Case Management Service (ICMS); although discontinued in 2013 and has retained its’ program name, functions as a referral hub for the Community Safety & Social Services division of Tangentyere Council.
This programs’ primary objective is to aid community members to obtain;
- Emergency Relief Assistance
- Return to Country Assistance
- ID cards
- Birth Certificates
- Referrals to internal/external services
ICMS works closely with the following organisations;
- Births, Deaths & Marriages
- Centrelink
- External Emergency Relief providers
- Internal programs
- Suppliers
The scope of these services is limited to funding constraints, however Tangentyere Council have identified and responded to the needs of Town Campers and community members in recognising this program as an essential service.
Our emergency assistance services include:
Tangentyere ID Card
The Tangentyere ID Card is a photo identification document which is accepted by banks and service providers and can be purchased by community members. See example below:
**This photo has been approved for use**
To obtain a Tangentyere Card a client must be able to provide at least 1 document from column 1 and 1 document from column 2: | Column 1 | Column 2 |
|---|---|
| Birth Certificate | Health Care Card |
| Birth Extract | Medicare Card |
| Keycard | |
| Pension Card | |
| Centrelink Income Statement | |
| Drivers License | |
| 18+ Card | |
| Proof of Identity Reference |
What if a client cannot provide a birth certificate?
Where a client cannot provide a ‘birth certificate’, ICMS can apply on behalf of the client to Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM). ICMS cannot issue a Tangentyere ID Card without a ‘birth extract’ or ‘birth certificate’. See Birth Extracts/Certificates for more information.
What is required to make an application for a Tangentyere Card?
The minimum requirements are as follows:
- 2 forms of Identity Verification
- Client Details
- Fee payable
Tangentyere Council use Centrelink Business Online Services to deduct payments from clients. Payments in cash can also be arranged.
Birth Extracts and Certificates
ICMS can apply on behalf of clients born outside the NT to Births, Deaths, and Marriages (BDM). Clients born in the NT can visit the local BDM office: Centrepoint Building, Corner of Gregory Terrace and Hartley Street, Alice Springs.
In the interest of efficiency, it is recommended that referring organisations aid clients to complete the relevant BDM application forms prior to attending ICMS.
What is required to apply for a birth extract/certificate?
- Client Identity database form
- Proof of Referral Authorisation form
- Proof of Identity Reference form (only when client has no other ID)
Return to Country
Tangentyere Council provide community visitors to Alice Springs assistance to return to home community. This service is funded by clients via Centrelink Centrepay deductions.
Following assessment by the ICMS team (which includes income confirmation checks or If required, copy of driver’s licence and registration), a repayment contract will be drawn between Tangentyere Council and the client.
Payments will remain in place until balance owing has been repaid.
This service is only available for community visitors who reside more than 80kms outside of Alice Springs.
Emergency Relief
ICMS can assist clients facing financial hardship through provision of Emergency Relief (limits apply). Funding is provided by the Department of Social Services and aids clients in crisis with the following:
- Food Vouchers
- Power recharge
- Assistance with utility bills
- Emergency short-term accommodation
- Other types of emergency relief
- Referrals to other services
The ER service can provide support to people who are:
- Sleeping Rough
- Homeless
- 'At Risk' of Homelessness • Escaping Violence
- Remote Community Visitors
- Released Prisoners
ER is by appointment only. Clients are only eligible to apply for food vouchers once every 6 weeks
and other financial assistance once every 6 months. Eligibility is subject to assessment and participation of potential clients in a case management process.
Clients are required to present the following information when applying for Emergency Relief:
- Income Statement or Pay Slip
- Bank Statement or ATM Receipt
- Relevant Tax Invoice or Bill
Bank
Tangentyere Council is working together with Westpac Banking Corporation to support our clients with all their basic banking needs through Tangentyere Westpac Instore Branch.
We can assist with:
Ordering a new card (if lost or damaged);
Resetting internet and phone banking passwords;
General account maintenance such as updating personal information;
Face to face assistance; and
all cash related services (including deposits or withdrawals from any Westpac account).
For anyone that has been remote and required banking assistance knows that normally a call centre help line is the only service provided. People can be in difficult situations where they are unable to access their money due to losing a card or not being able to access internet or phone banking. To minimise the stress of this situation, Tangentyere Westpac Instore Branch supports our local communities with the use of fax requests. This allows our clients to reset phone or internet banking passwords, order a new card, update their personal information and even complete transfer requests between Westpac bank accounts.
Opening Hours:
Monday 8:30am – 3:00pm
Tuesday 8:30am – 3:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am – 3:00pm
Thursday 8:30am – 3:00pm
Friday 8:30am – 3:00pm
Closed for lunch each day 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Closed for Alice Springs / NT Public Holidays