2026 Bushfires: Support is available

This emergency relief payment helps eligible people impacted by the 2026 bushfires to pay for essentials such as food, clothing, medication and accommodation. Eligible amounts are:

• One-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child

• Up to $2,380 per eligible family in total

You may be eligible if:

• Your principal place of residence was damaged or destroyed by the January 2026 bushfires and you can’t live in it, or

• Your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area, and you evacuated your property.

Call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 and press 0 then 1, or visit an Emergency Relief Centre for help with the application process.

See more information at vic.gov.au

There are two Australian Government payments you may be eligible for if you’ve been directly affected by the Victoria Bushfires, January 2026:

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is to help you if the disaster caused major damage to your home or major assets that you own at your home. It can also help if you were seriously injured or your immediate family member has died or is missing.

It’s a lump sum non-taxable payment of $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children under 16.

If you’re a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, you may be eligible for New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment.

For more information on eligibility and how to claim, visit the Services Australia website.

Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) is financial support if you’ve lost income as a direct result of this disaster.

If you’re eligible, you’ll get the maximum equivalent rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on your personal circumstances. You can get Disaster Recovery Allowance for a maximum of 13 weeks.

DRA is a taxable payment.

If you’re a New Zealand citizen living in Australia, you may be eligible for New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance.

For more information on eligibility and how to claim, visit the Services Australia website.

If you’re eligible, you can get both AGDRP and Disaster Recovery Allowance.

If you have been displaced or cannot stay in your home due to the bushfires, emergency accommodation support may be available. This can include temporary housing in hotels, serviced apartments or other places arranged through relief centres and recovery services.

You may be eligible if you have no other place to go. Before seeking this support, you are encouraged to consider options such as contacting family or friends for support or speaking to your insurance provider about what your policy will cover.

Support workers can assist you to find accommodation options if you have no safe alternative. You can also ask for help at an Emergency Relief Centre, or by calling the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226.

See more information at vic.gov.au

The Emergency Recovery Support Program helps people affected by the fires to navigate the recovery process and access appropriate services. This support can include:

• Connecting you with local services and programs that can help

• Advice on insurance, legal or financial questions

• Help with accessing government payments and grants

• Support from a recovery support worker if needed

Recovery support officers can guide you through what’s available and how to access it. You can enquire at an Emergency Relief Centre, through recovery services, or by calling the VicEmergency or Emergency Recovery Hotlines.

Emergency Recovery Support can be accessed via the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 9 for an interpreter or call TIS on 131450).

See more information at vic.gov.au or find out more about support, advice and counselling available throughout your recovery.

Up to $16 million in financial assistance for households impacted by extended power outages following the bushfires.

Eligible households who have been without power for seven or more days within a two-week period will receive $2,380 per week for up to three weeks, helping families manage during this challenging time.

Applications can be made through electricity distribution businesses, with full details available at energy.vic.gov.au.

Primary producers are the backbone of local economies and their recovery is critical after the devastation of these bushfires.

An initial $40 million in grants of up to $75,000 will be provided to eligible primary producers, to help cover the costs of clean-up and reinstating their enterprises. Funding can be used for essential recovery activities such as disposing of livestock, rebuilding or replacing damaged on-farm infrastructure and restoring operations.

Grants will open as soon as possible and will be delivered by Rural Finance. Information on eligibility and how to apply will be available at ruralfinance.com.au.

$10 million in concessional loans are available to help primary producers recover from the bushfires. Loans of up to $250,000 will be available for producers who have suffered significant damage to assets, while loans of up to $100,000 will support those experiencing a major loss of income.

This assistance will further help cover essential costs such as repairing or replacing damaged equipment, rebuilding infrastructure, purchasing livestock and meeting working capital expenses like wages, rent and fodder.

Applications will open as soon as possible and will be delivered by Rural Finance. Information on eligibility and how to apply will be available at ruralfinance.com.au.

The Government has announced support for councils to assist their communities. Almost $12 million will be delivered through the Council Support Fund to help bushfire-affected councils restore vital community assets and services.

This funding will kickstart clean-up and repairs to local public spaces like parks, footy ovals, community centres, playgrounds and sporting fields – helping communities reconnect.

This Fund boosts councils’ capacity to lead recovery efforts and make decisions that reflect local needs, ensuring support goes where it’s needed most. The Fund will be active for two years, giving councils the time they need for clean-up and reconstruction. Councils will receive up to $750,000 depending on the scale of impacts, providing tailored support for rebuilding communities.

Access grants, subsidies, and advice for managing financial hardship.

Financial Support – Agriculture Victoria

Support is available for eligible property owners facing financial difficulties.

State Revenue Office – Hardship Relief

Support is available for superannuation and tax obligations due to financial hardship.

ATO Financial Hardship

The Victorian Government has announced more than $4 million to provide financial counselling for communities impacted by the bushfires, helping Victorians access emergency assistance, navigate recovery systems and stabilise their finances so they can rebuild.

Specialist counsellors will help individuals and families access recovery grants, manage insurance claims, replace essential items and deal with debts through payment plans and fee waivers. They will also provide advocacy with insurers and creditors, and connect people to legal support.

The funding will boost the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Financial Capability Support Program, giving primary producers tailored financial advice.

Rural Financial Counselling Service

Free, confidential support for farmers and rural small businesses.

Call 1300 771 741 or rfcnetwork.com.au

If fires have affected your property, including dead or injured animals, crop loss or damage, or fodder and water needs, you can report it online. Your information will help us report on recovery and decide what support you need.

Collecting this information is a critical step in enabling Council to advocate to other levels of government for the resources needed to support recovery and rebuilding. We encourage businesses to keep Council informed of their needs as we move forward together.

Loss and Damage Online Assessment Form

Learn more on agriculture.vic.gov.au

Emergency fodder is being made available for farmers in fire-affected areas.

Call Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226 if you have urgent animal welfare needs.

Agriculture Victoria are a Victorian Government Department responsible for legislation, protection, industry support and information relating to farmers, agri-business and animal welfare.

Farmers can report livestock and property impacts, and access information on emergency fodder and carcass disposal via the Agriculture Victoria website:

If it is safe for you to move large animals such as horses, you can take them to these large animal relief centres:

• Seymour Showgrounds: 55 Tallarook St, Seymour
• Mansfield Zoo: Mt Battery Road, Mansfield
• Mansfield Racecourse: 6165 Midland Hwy, Mansfield (horses only)
• Euroa Saleyard: 58 Sutherland St, Euroa
• McCormack Park: 45 McCormacks Rd, Merrijig

Please note, that owners are responsible for their animals and will need to stay with their animals. Bring your own feed and extra water in case of power outages.

Small animals are welcome at the relief centre in Seymour, in the following location:

• Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre (Chittick Park): Pollard St, Seymour.

Support is here for farmers, families, and rural communities feeling stressed or overwhelmed.

Mental health and wellbeing support on agriculture.vic.gov.au

Agriculture Victoria provides recommendations, support services and more information.

What to do after a bushfire on agriculture.vic.gov.au

24/7 mental health crisis support.

Ph 1300 369 005

Free, no-referral outreach services for anyone aged 26 and over.

Ph 1300 000 559 or betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Wellbeing support, counselling, and practical assistance for farming families.

Ph 1300 175 594 or ruralaid.org.au