Emergency Relief & ID Cards

The Indigenous Case Management Service (ICMS) can assist clients facing financial hardship through provision of Emergency Relief (ER) (limits apply) and access to the Tangentyere Card a proof of identity card accepted by banks and service providers. The Return to Country program sits within the ICMS and assists people visiting Alice Springs to return to their homes in communities around Central Australia via various transport services such as bus services. 

Tangentyere ID Card

The Tangentyere Card is photo ID which is accepted by banks and service providers. 

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: 

Identity Verification 

Column 1 Column 2

Birth Certificate

Birth Extract Health Care Card

Medicare Card

Keycard

Pension Card

Centrelink Income Statement

Drivers License

18+ Card

Proof of Identity Reference

If you cannot provide a ‘birth certificate’, we can apply on your behalf. We cannot issue a Tangentyere Card without a ‘birth extract’ or ‘birth certificate’. 

NT ‘birth certificate’ applications take 1-3 days; interstate applications take 3- 4 weeks (Link to below list).   

South Australia http://www.ocba.sa.gov.au/bdm/

Western Australia http://www.bdm.dotag.wa.gov.au/

Queensland http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/bdm.htm

New South Wales http://www.bdm.nsw.gov.au/

Victoria http://online.justice.vic.gov.au/ots/home

Tasmania http://www.justice.tas.gov.au/bdm

To apply for a card you need at least:

• 2 forms of Identity Verification from the table.

• Client Details

• $20 (1st Card)

The card costs: 

 First issue $20

 Replacement (lost card) $10

 Annual Renewal $20

 

Service Providers

In the interest of efficiency, it is recommended that referring organisations provide assistance to clients to complete the following forms (attached to website) prior to attending the Tangentyere ER and ID Card Service: 

• Client Identity Database Form

• Proof of Referral Authorisation Form

• Proof of Identity Reference Form (only when client has no other ID)

1. Justice of the Peace, Lawyer, Commissioner for Declarations, Notary Public and Court House

2. Authenticated by the Police

Emergency Relief (ER)

The ER and ID Card Service can assist clients facing financial hardship through provision of Emergency Relief (limits apply). The types of financial assistance are as follows: 

• Food Vouchers 

• Accommodation 

• Funeral Travel • Blankets (1 per person) 

• Utility Bills 

• Rent Arrears 

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.

For ER you need to bring with you:

• Income Statement or Pay Slip

• Bank Statement or ATM Receipt

• Relevant Tax Invoice or Bill

• Eligibility Assessment

Contact us on (08) 8951 4222 (or Contact Sheet).

Centrelink

We have a Centrelink office located at our main office. This is very useful as our key services can bring clients here, and they can access a number of supports in one place. This means that if you need support with Centrelink, you can go back and forth to get any required paperwork from us at the ICMS (Link) or the Bank (Link).

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 12:00 - 1:00pm)