Financial assistance after a bushfire

Disaster recovery funding arrangements - Victorian bushfires, January 2026

Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grants

Grants of up to $75,000 are available 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 stock, rebuilding or replacing damaged on-farm infrastructure and restoring operations.

Grants are now open. Contact Rural Finance for information on eligibility and how to apply at ruralfinance.com.au

Primary Producers Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans

Loans of up to $250,000 are 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 are now open. Contact Rural Finance for information on eligibility and how to apply at ruralfinance.com.au

Clean-up program

Clean-up support is available for uninsured and underinsured residential homes and structures such as sheds or garages.

It is also available for businesses if uninsured and underinsured structures have been damaged or destroyed by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires.

Registrations are now open. Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 or visit the Victorian Government’s clean-up support page.

Emergency Recovery Support Program

This program helps people affected by the bushfires navigate and access the government support programs and services they need. It can also help with things like insurance and legal questions, finding local services and connecting people to essential health and wellbeing support.

Dedicated recovery support workers will also be available for people who need extra help navigating their recovery.

The Emergency Recovery Support Program is available by calling the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.

Business Recovery Advisory Service

Advisors will deliver free, confidential one-on-one support to business owners, tailored to their circumstances and supporting their long-term recovery.

The Small Business Financial Counselling service will provide free and confidential financial counselling to businesses who are in financial risk or at risk of it due to the bushfires.

More information will be available at business.vic.gov.au

Recovery Water Tank Rebates

Eligble households that are not connected to mains water supply will receive a rebate of up to $1,500 for cleaning and decontaminating rain water tanks, roofs and gutters that are impacted by fires.

Residents who have already paid for cleaning are also eligible for reimbursement.

For information read recovery water tank rebates.

Prolonged Power Outage Payments

If your farm business lost power for 7 or more days within a 2‑week period, you may be eligible for:

• $3,088 per week, for up to 3 weeks

More information is available https://www.energy.vic.gov.au/about-energy/safety/power-outages

As previously announced, eligible households that have been without power for 7 or more days within a 2-week period will receive $2,380 per week for up to 3 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/about-energy/safety/power-outages.

Personal Hardship Assistance Program

If a major emergency happens where you live, like a bushfire, the Victorian Government may give you money to help you. You do not need to pay this money back.

Payment amount

Emergency relief payments are based on a fixed amount for each member of your household.

The payment is not calculated based on how much money you earn.

Payments are $680 per adult and $340 per child, up to a maximum of $2,380 per eligible family.

Who is eligible for the payment

Emergency relief payments are available for eligible people affected by the January 2026 bushfires.

You can apply for an emergency relief payment if:

• your principal place of residence was damaged or destroyed by the fires and you can’t live in it or your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area and you evacuated your property
• you have unmet immediate relief needs.

How to apply

A support officer from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing can help you apply for emergency relief support.

Call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (press 0, then 1 to talk to someone).

Or visit an emergency relief centre. You can check if there is an emergency relief centre open near you at www.emergency.vic.gov.au/relief

Bring some ID with you if you can, like:

• driver licence
• Medicare card
• letter or utility bill showing your address.

Help and support

If you need help, please call the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226. Press 9 for an interpreter.