Material Assistance Program
EAPA voucher
What is an EAPA voucher?
Funded by the NSW Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability, EAPA crisis vouchers are designed to assist people who are financially disadvantaged and are having difficulty paying their home gas and/or electricity bill because of crisis. It is not intended as ongoing income support.
Who is eligible?
CALD residents in the Botany Bay, Randwick, City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra Local Government Areas who are currently on a Centrelink pension. Vouchers can only be distributed to bills that are over $100.00 and to accounts that have not previously used vouchers for six months. Accounts that have had EAPA vouchers issued within six months will NOT be eligible.
How do I get an EAPA voucher?
Please ring the Centre on 9663 3922 to confirm we have vouchers in stock (SMCS only has limited numbers) and to set an appointment. The appointment is compulsory. No vouchers will be given without an appointment. At your appointment please bring the original bill, your pension/health care card and a Centrelink Statement of Income into the Centre for an assessment. It is important to note that not everyone who requests EAPA vouchers will qualify for assistance.
PAS voucher
What is an PAS voucher?
Supplied by Sydney Water, these vouchers are designed to assist people who are financially disadvantaged and are having difficulty paying their home water bill because of crisis. It is not intended as ongoing income support.
Who is eligible?
CALD residents in the Botany Bay, Randwick, City of Sydney, Waverley and Woollahra Local Government Areas who are currently on a Centrelink pension.
How do I get PAS voucher?
Please ring the Centre on 9663 3922 to confirm we have vouchers in stock (SMCS only has limited numbers). An appointment is compulsory. No vouchers will be given without an appointment.
At your appointment please bring the original bill, your pension/health care card and a Centrelink Statement of Income into the Centre for an assessment. It is important to note that not everyone who requests PAS vouchers will qualify for assistance.
Emergency Food Relief
Oz Harvest Food Rescue
Oz Haverst generously delivers food to SMCS Daceyville office every Friday for our most clients to receive a food donation. All clients must be assessed to determine eligibility and are reassessed by our caseworker periodically to ensure the most needy clients assistance.
In order to access our Emergency Relief program you need to contact Sydney MCS and make an appointment.
Tax Help
Tax Help is a community-based program which contributes to community confidence in the tax system. The program aims to provide assistance and education to low income and disadvantaged people in genuine need of assistance or help. This service, now in its 23rd year of operation, is delivered by a network of 1200 volunteers in over 800 centres nationally. In 2010, over 58000 people nationally were assisted; including people from non-English speaking and Indigenous backgrounds, those with disabilities and young people lodging a return for the first time.
Volunteers trained by the Tax Office are available at Sydney MCS to help low income earners ($50,000 year or less) to prepare their tax returns.
To make an appointment please contact the Sydney MCS office.
To find out if you’re eligible ring 13 28 61.
If you need more information about the Program, access the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website.