Victoria is facing severe bushfires throughout most of the state. A State of Disaster has been declared. Communities, farmers and businesses are facing heavy losses.
The Victorian and Australian Governments are providing essential support to communities hit by the January bushfires. This aid will help with both immediate and long-term recovery needs.
Help available
Personal Hardship Assistance Program
Emergency relief payments
You may be eligible for an emergency relief payment if you have unmet immediate relief needs and:
- your principal place of residence is 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.
Under this payment, people can get:
- a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child
- up to a maximum of $2,380 per eligible family.
The payment is to help cover the costs of essentials like food, clothing, medication and accommodation. Payments are a fixed amount for each member of a household and are not calculated based on how much money you earn.
To apply for a payment:
The Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) can help you apply for this payment.
- Call the VicEmergency Hotline 1800 226 226 (Press 0, then 1 to talk to someone)
- Visit an Emergency Relief Centre.
Have personal identification (ID) with you if you can. This could be a:
- driver licence
- Medicare card
- letter or bill with your name and home address.
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment
People who have been impacted by the bushfires may also be eligible for an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.
This is a one off, non-means tested lump sum payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children.
More information will be available at 2:00 pm on Wednesday 14 January 2026 on the Services Australia website.
Emergency accommodation
Short-term emergency accommodation can help for anyone who can’t go home because of the bushfires. This ensures everyone has a safe place to stay.
You may be eligible if you have no other place to go.
Before seeking this support, people are encouraged to consider options such as:
- contacting family or friends for support
- speaking to their insurance provider about what their policy will cover.
If you don’t have insurance or a place to stay, contact your local council.
Insurance cover
If you can’t stay at home, your insurance might cover temporary accommodation costs. Check your policy details or speak to your insurance provider to find out.
There will be limits on temporary accommodation cover. These are different depending on your policy.
Ask your insurance provider about any time limits or if you have a total budget. This can help you plan.
For example, if where you are staying has a high per night cost, like a hotel or short stay rental, you might use up your budget quickly. Talk to your insurer about staying in a cheaper place. A longer-term rental might be cheaper, which could let you stay longer.
Emergency Recovery Support Program
Emergency recovery support is available for people directly impacted by the January 2026 fires.
If this emergency has impacted you, it can be hard to know what to do next.
A range of support is available, based on you or your family’s needs.
Recovery support officers can guide you on your journey.
Emergency recovery support can be as simple as advice on what services are available or connecting you with programs that can help you.
Emergency recovery support can help with things like:
- finding local services near you
- insurance and legal questions
- money problems
- your health and wellbeing
- registering for government services.
If you need extra support, you may get help from a dedicated recovery support worker. They will work with you to find and access services you need.
If you were impacted by another emergency unrelated to the January 2026 fires, contact your local council to find supports in your area.
You can also find out more about support, advice and counselling available throughout your recovery.
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).
State coordinated clean-up program
This program will let eligible fire-affected homeowners start the recovery process by funding key clean-up activities, like demolition and removal of hazardous materials. This will be available in the impacted LGAs for the principal place of residence for people who are uninsured and under-insured.
Waste disposal fees waived
People from the 18 LGAs impacted by the fire won’t need to pay any fees at waste disposal facilities if they show proof of residence, like a driver’s license.
The fee waivers will run for 120 days to 13 May 2026 to ensure impacted communities have enough time to clean up their property and start getting back on their feet.
The list of the 18 LGAs can be accessed on the State of Disaster webpage.
Livestock
Landholders concerned about livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226. Agriculture Victoria will work with the fire Incident Controller to assess the request and determine the earliest and safest way to get access.
Farmers can access emergency fodder for livestock affected by the fires.
The Victorian Farmers Federation will lead the supply, transport, and distribution of fodder.
Further details about the program will be made available on the Victorian Farmers Federation website.
Counselling and social recovery
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is accessible for bushfire affected primary producers, and offers free, confidential wellbeing support alongside financial and business counselling support.
RFCS wellbeing counsellors can visit bushfire-affected producers at their property or talk over the phone to assist with mental health and wellbeing issues for individuals and their families.
To access the support of a wellbeing counsellor, call the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1300 771 741.
The Look Over the Farm Gate (LOTFG) program being delivered by the National Centre for Farmer Health is available to farming communities experiencing stress and will now open on 16 January 2026.
The LOTFG has been brought forward to meet the immediate needs of bushfire affected communities and provides grants of up to $5,000 for events and activities to support mental health and wellbeing.
Further information will be available on the National Centre for Farmer Health website on Friday when applications open.
Other help
Help with insurance
You can get free advice before accepting a settlement offer from your insurer. Talk to a financial counsellor through the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.
The Financial Rights Legal Centre can help you with insurance issues. They have factsheets and sample letters you can send to your insurer.
You can contact Disaster Legal Help Victoria to ask about your legal questions.
General support
Emergency Recovery Victoria is still working alongside emergency services, councils, and community groups to assess recovery needs and provide support to affected communities.
Ongoing services can also help. For general support go to the Recovery services, wellbeing and support webpage.
Donate
Information about how to donate money, goods or services is available on the VicEmergency website.
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