Financial assistance after a bushfire

Disaster recovery funding arrangements

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

Prolonged Power Outage Payments

Eligible households who 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

and

• 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.