VicGov Emergency Relief Payment
A one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child / up to a maximum of $2,380 per eligible family.
Eligibility
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.
Contact
Phone: 1800 226 226
AusGov Emergency Relief Payment
One off, non-means tested lump sum payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children. Will not be taxed.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this payment, you must be both of these:
– adversely affected in a declared area.
– an Australian resident or eligible under other residence rules
Adversely affected means that you or an eligible child you care for must have been directly affected by the declared disaster.
This includes one or more of the following:
– major damage to your principal place of residence
– major damage to a major asset or assets that you own at your principal place of residence
– serious injury
– an immediate family member who is an Australian citizen or resident has died or is missing.
To claim AGDRP, at the time of this disaster you must be either:
– 16 or older
– under 16 and get an eligible payment.
You can include any eligible child you care for at the time of this disaster in your claim.
You can only get AGDRP once for this disaster.
VicGov Prolonged Power Outage Payments
Payments of $2,380 per eligible residential customer are available for each 7-day period without power up to a maximum of 3 payments.
Eligibility
To receive the payment you must:
- have a residential electricity account that is registered against a National Meter Identification number (NMI) for the relevant electricity distribution network (electricity account holder).
- be an electricity account holder for a property that:
– lost power due to the severe weather events occurring in Victoria between 7 January and 10 January 2026; and
– was without power for 7 days.
– have not applied for, or received a PPOP, for the same NMI in relation to the same period.
Victorian Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants
The Victorian Government has recently announced measures to support Victorian primary producers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires. These measures include grants of up to $75,000 to assist with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of primary production enterprises that have suffered direct damage as a result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires.
Eligibility
To be eligible for the grant, applicants must have a primary production enterprise located in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster and have suffered direct damage as a result of the eligible disaster. Full eligibility criteria are available in the program guidelines.
A full list of eligible activities is included in the program guidelines.
Concessional Loans for Primary Producers
$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.
Eligibility
To be eligible for a loan, applicants must meet certain criteria:
– Be a primary producer
– Devote part of their labour to the primary production enterprise
– Derive at least 50 per cent of their gross income from primary production in an average year
– Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) and have held that ABN at the time of the eligible disaster
– Own a primary production enterprise in the defined disaster area for the eligible disaster
– Have been engaged in carrying on the primary production enterprise when affected by the eligible disaster
– Be primarily responsible for meeting the costs claimed in the application
– Be intending to re-establish or continue carrying on conducting the primary production enterprise within the same Local Government Area
– Have suffered significant damage to assets or a significant loss of income as a direct result of the eligible disaster
– Demonstrate that the primary production enterprise has reasonable prospects of long-term viability with the assistance provided and the capacity to repay the loan
– Use the funds for the approved purpose only
– Provide adequate loan security
– Demonstrate the primary production enterprise has not received another concessional loan for loss or damage that was related to the eligible disaster or where a – concessional loan has been received it is replaced with a loan under this offering.
Australian Government Disaster Recovery Allowance
Allowance for people who have lost some or all of their income because of this disaster.
Eligibility
You must earn less than the average Australian weekly income of $2,011.40 before tax after this income loss, and live or work in an affected area.
VicGov DFFH – Emergency re-establishment payments
Eligible households without insurance are encouraged to apply for re-establishment assistance. Funding of up to $52,250 may be available.
Eligibility
This payment is for people who:
– do not have money to fix their home damaged by a major emergency
– do not have building or contents insurance
– cannot return home because it is damaged or destroyed AND
– cannot get to their home for more than 7 days because of a major emergency.
Contact
For more information about how to apply for this payment:
Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
Press 4 to apply for a re-establishment assistance payment.
For translating and interpreting support press 9 or call Translating and Interpreting Services on 131 450.
Fodder & Fencing Support
Emergency Fodder Transport Registration Application
Eligibility
In order to participate in the Emergency Fodder Transportation program, all vehicles must be pre-registered with the VFF and transportation costs will only be reimbursed by government for those who are registered with the VFF and issued with a consignment notice during a declared natural disaster.
VFF Request for Fodder
Eligibility
Completing this form will lodge your requests for emergency fodder that will be considered by the VFF. It does not guarantee you will receive fodder. You will be contacted by the VFF if fodder can be arranged.
Blaze Aid
Eligibility
- Early registration helps Blaze Aid understand how many families need assistance in each area.
- Once a basecamp closes, BlazeAid cannot provide further support.
- Even if you’ve registered with your Council/Shire, you must also register directly with the BlazeAid basecamp.
Contact
Debbie Buttler: 0418 990 267
Local Government & Community Support
Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund
The Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund is available to support individuals, households, and businesses affected by the bushfires across the Strathbogie region. It further provides funding for initiatives executed by Not-for-Profit organisations and Strathbogie and Mitchell Shire Councils in support of impacted individuals and infrastructure.
Grants support urgent relief such as:
– Transport, food and shelter of people or animals
– Connectivity (technology and people-focused needs)
– Medical, health and well-being needs
– Repairs to buildings and infrastructure
– Replacement of critical assets
The Fund is currently in fund raising mode and applications will open as soon as practicable.
Eligibility
Support will be allocated based on demonstrated need, available funds, and recovery priorities, recognising that impacts vary across households and over time.
Individuals and households impacted by the bushfires within the Strathbogie region may be eligible to apply. Eligibility details will be available soon.
Contact
info@strathbogiedisasterrelief.com
Murrindindi Disaster Fund
This fund will provide practical immediate assistance as well as supporting the medium and long term recovery.
Eligibility
Fire effected Murrindindi Shire residents.
Contact
Phone: 0488 007 688
Email: info@foundationmurrindindi.org.au
Banking Support
Westpac – Customer Support
Westpac is supporting affected customers by offering repayment deferrals on home, credit card and business loans, access to insurance claims, early term deposit withdrawals without penalty, temporary interest relief on unsecured credit, cash-flow support through discounted temporary overdrafts for businesses, merchant fee assistance, and tailored hardship solutions where further support is required.
Eligibility
Customers of Westpac directly impacted by the Bushfire.
Contact
Customers: 1800 067 497
Business customers: 1800 029 749″
NAB – Customer Support
- Loan deferral or reduced repayment arrangements for home, personal and some business loans.
- Deferring upcoming credit card and business credit card payments.
- Waiving or refunding fees and charges, including but not limited to merchant terminal fees and early access fees for term deposits.
Eligibility
Customers of NAB directly impacted by the Bushfire.
Contact
Customers: 1300 308 132
Business customers: 1300 769 650
NAB – $1000 Disaster Relief Grant
- Loan deferral or reduced repayment arrangements for home, personal and some business loans.
- Deferring upcoming credit card and business credit card payments.
- Waiving or refunding fees and charges, including but not limited to merchant terminal fees and early access fees for term deposits.
Eligibility
Applications are open for those who were customers as of 26 December 2025 and live in the relevant disaster declared areas, as listed by VIC Emergency.
Contact
Customers: 1300 308 132
Business customers: 1300 769 650
CommBank – Customer Support
- Temporary accommodation# for customers who have taken out Home Insurance provided by Hollard, distributed by CommBank. We can put you in touch with the CBA Insurance team who will assist if your home has been damaged
- Customised payment arrangements such as the option to defer loan repayments
- Waived fees and charges
- Temporary overdrafts, additional loans or emergency credit limit increases (subject to credit approval)
- Early access to Term Deposits
Eligibility
Customers of CommBank directly impacted by the Bushfire.
Contact
Customers: 1800 314 695
Business customers: 13 26 07
Bendigo Bank – Customer Support
- Customers can apply for relief on their home, personal and business loans for up to three months
- Bendigo Bank Agri business customers can apply for relief on loans for up to six months
- Discounted interest rates on new personal loans taken out by existing Bendigo Bank customers
- Credit cards and business credit cards can apply for deferral of repayments for up to three months
- Waiver of interest rate reduction for early withdrawals on term deposits prior to maturity
- No ‘loan break’ costs for customers with a fixed rate who use an insurance payment to pay out their loan
- Merchant rental fees may be waived for impacted businesses.
Eligibility
Customers of Bendigo Bank directly impacted by the Bushfire.
Contact
Customers: 1300 236 344
Agribusiness customers: 1300 660 115
ANZ – Customer Support
- Short-term payment relief on home loans, credit cards, personal loans and some business loans (we may still charge you interest during that period)
- Waiving fees for restructuring business loans
- Waiving fees for accessing term deposits early
Eligibility
Customers of ANZ directly impacted by the Bushfire.
Contact
Customers: 1800 149 549
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