CUA pledges $150,000 for Rural Fire Services and Country Fire Authority

CUA will donate $50,000 each to the NSW and QLD Rural Fire Services, and a further $50,000 to the Country Fire Authority in Victoria. The donations follow a $25,000 contribution from CUA to the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund in early December, to help volunteers continue to support communities impacted by the bushfire crisis.

In addition to the donations, CEO Paul Lewis confirmed that any CUA team members who are performing duties as volunteer firefighters, or with other emergency services directly involved in the bushfire response, are eligible to claim up to 4 weeks of paid special leave. CUA will also introduce a new payment for team members with a partner who has been undertaking volunteer firefighting efforts in recent weeks, where their partner is not already receiving paid emergency services leave from their own employer or the government.

“Member-owned businesses in Australia have a proud tradition of helping our communities in times of need, and this bushfire crisis is no different. Many of our mutual peers are also supporting the relief effort and we trust they will continue to do so,” Mr Lewis said.

He said the dedication of Rural Fire Service crews across multiple states had not gone unnoticed and CUA recognised this commitment would continue throughout summer.

“While we want to support the organisations on the fire front, we also know it is important to remunerate the hardworking volunteers.

“CUA offers special leave to team members in a range of circumstances, like the bushfire emergency we have seen. For team members, we are matching the four weeks of paid emergency services leave that the Australian Government has extended to public servants. However, we also want to support our team members’ families.

“Whether it is a CUA team member on the fire-ground, or their partner, those volunteers should not have to go without pay or dip into their annual leave when they are performing such a vital, and valued, community service. While volunteers may not expect to be paid, they deserve to be remunerated for their time and their bravery in dangerous and unpredictable conditions.”

We’re here to help - CUA Disaster Relief Package

CUA is offering assistance to our members who have been impacted by the various bushfires across multiple states since November 2019.

Our Disaster Relief Package is available to members in a range of circumstances - from those in impacted communities, to our volunteer firefighters or members with immediate financial needs relating to unexpected expenses or being unable to reach their place of work. Support under the package includes:

• An opportunity to suspend home and personal loan repayments for up to three months;
• Waiver of late fees for home and personal loan repayments;
• Waiver of the personal loan establishment fee*;
• Waiver of term deposit break costs;
• Repayment relief and personalised solutions for credit cards are available on a case-by-case basis and no fees for replacement cards;
• Payment of health insurance premiums suspended for 3 months for existing CUA Health customers, with no interruption to health cover, and priority processing/ payment of claims.

To learn more about how we can help, please call us on 133 282 or speak with your local Branch Manager.

Members with compatible Apple or Android devices can use our new iM CUA messaging app. It’s a convenient way to chat securely with CUA, especially if you don’t have time to call us. Our team can help you with any of your banking or insurance products, including questions about your existing Allianz policies. You can download the iM CUA app through the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.greatsouthernbank.com.au/help-and-contact or through the iM CUA team on 1800 931 411.

Allianz insurance customers

If you are affected by bushfires and need to lodge a claim, the Allianz claims team is ready to help. If you have experienced damage it is a good idea to lodge a claim as soon as possible.

Allianz claims - Lodge your claim online or by calling 1300 555 030.

* Lending criteria, terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Personal loans are issued by Credit Union Australia Ltd ABN 44 087 650 959 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 238317 to approved applicants only.