Small businesses and disaster (NSW)

What is this resource?

This resource is designed to support community workers and volunteers connect people in disaster affected communities with legal help. If your client is a small business owner, this resource will help you identify if they are facing a legal issue and refer them to legal help. We refer to community members you’re helping as your ‘client’ throughout this resource.

This resource provides:

• links to legal information resources that you can provide to your client
• information on how to make a referral for legal help

What legal problems do small business owners face after a disaster?

Many small business owners, primary producers, and sole traders don’t know what kind of free legal help is out there after facing the impacts of floods, bushfires, or cyclones.

Watch our webinar hosted by Justice Connect’s Manager – Innovation, Emma Ryan, to find out how we can connect your client with one of the 10,000 pro bono lawyers in our network for legal advice or representation.

Emma takes you through how Justice Connect’s program works, how to make a quick application online, and what kind of legal matters we have responded to in communities impacted by disasters.

Obligations of service providers impacted by disaster

Justice Connect has created a resource which outlines the obligations of service providers in relation to their customer’s property in the context of a disaster. It explains what rights a consumer has to compensation if a service provider is in breach of their obligations.

Is your client a ‘service provider’:

A “service provider” is any person, business or organisation that agrees to do something for someone, in exchange for payment.

A service provider could be: 

• a small business
• a franchise or chain store
• a large business or corporation
• a sole trader
• someone who occasionally performs work on someone else’s property in exchange for something (this person could be family, a friend, a neighbour, or someone else)

If your client owns a small business that sells services to customers, then it is very likely that the content of this resource is relevant to their business. Services could include:

• repairs
• delivery or couriering
• cleaning
• dry-cleaning or tailoring
• consignment
• a parking lot or garage

Read this resource for more information: A customer’s property was damaged during a disaster – Justice Connect.

Refer your client for free legal help

Justice Connect

Justice Connect can provide free legal advice and ongoing representation in certain matters to eligible individuals, small business owners and primary producers affected by disasters like floods, bushfires, cyclones, and other extreme weather events. We may be able to match your client with free legal assistance to help with disputes or to assist them better understand their legal rights and obligations.

Refer someone to Justice Connect: https://justiceconnect.org.au/refer/