Experiencing a disaster can be overwhelming and recovery looks different for everyone. If you are a property owner affected by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, extra recovery support is available.
Emergency Recovery Support Program: Support officers can advise on what services are available or connect you to programs. If you need extra support, a recovery support worker can help you over the long term.
Call – 1800 560 760
You can complete an online form to get support update notifications via email and SMS here.
Financial Help
Payments and grants for immediate and longer-term financial help.
Personal Hardship Assistance Program
Emergency Relief Payment are designed to provide immediate financial help for eligible people experiencing extreme financial hardship due to the January fires. 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.
You can apply by calling the Vic Emergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (press 0, then 1 to talk to someone).
Have personal identification with you, such as a driver’s licence, medicate card, bill with your name and home address.
Re-establishment Assistance
Emergency re-establishment assistance is designed to assist people and families to re-establish a principal place of residence (the primary home you live in). There are eligibility criteria, you can find out more by phoning the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 4 to apply).
Australian Government Disaster Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance are also available and more information can be found on Services Australia website.
You can find further information on recovery services, wellbeing and support here.
Legal Help
Support is available if you have been impacted by the recent fire event. There are a number of ways where you can be connected to the right service, including:
Call Disaster Legal Help Victoria 1800 113 432 Mon-Fri 8am-6pm.
Click on Disaster Legal Help Victoria | Disaster Legal Help Victoria - where you can access an online chat and further resources.
Allied Justice is an organisation providing free legal advice, information, and community legal education to people who live, work, or study in the Grampians region of Victoria. You can book an appointment online or call 1800 466 488.
Clean-up and Waste
Free clean-up support is for people who are uninsured or underinsured. You can register for clean-up support here or phone the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
Waste disposal fees waived until 13 May 2026. Fees are waived for waste caused by the bushfire at waste disposal facilities, you will be required to show proof of residence, like a driver’s license.
Stay away from damaged building materials, they might have asbestos of other hazards. More information on asbestos can be found at Asbestos in Victoria | Asbestos.
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 your or your family’s needs.
Emergency recovery support can help with things like:
- Finding local services near you
- Insurance and legal questions
- Money concerns
- Health and wellbeing
- Registering for government services.
Emergency Recovery Support can be accessed by calling the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday.
Water Relief and Replacement
Relief drinking water is available to help affected households. Relief drinking water is a one-off delivery of clean domestic water, up to 20,000 litres.
It is available if:
- Your household relies on tank water
- Your tank has been contaminated by fire, ash, debris or fire-fighting activities, and
- Your property is within the impacted area.
Households must complete and submit the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) form to access this support.
Emergency relief drinking water 2026
Essential water replacement is available if water was taken from your land by authorities to fight fires. The Essential Water Replacement Policy makes sure that water needed for homes, livestock, or crops is replaced.
You must complete the Essential Water Replacement Form
Essential Water Replacement Form – PDF
Essential Water Replacement Form – Word Document
and email it to [email protected] within 3 months of it being taken from your property.
For more information visit Forest Fire Management Victoria.
Water Tanks
Eligible households may receive up to $1,500 total, covering:
- up to $750 – 100% of the cost of tank cleaning assistance
up to $750 – 100% of the cost of roof and gutter cleaning assistance.
Note: This rebate is for households not covered by primary producer programs. Support is limited to domestic drinking water needs, not agricultural, stock or garden purposes.
Reimbursement is available if you have already paid to have this done. To check your eligibility and apply call 13 61 86 or go to the DEECA website here.
Roads and Infrastructure
Fires have affected not only road surfaces but also critical roadside and safety infrastructure such as barriers and signage.
Crews will be out undertaking road repairs, checking and replacing signage, and clearing trees and debris.
Farmers and Primary Producers
Grants, loans, livestock support, fencing, water, and counselling support are available for impacted farmers and primary producers.
Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Grant of $75,000 can help cover the costs of clean-up and getting back to business.
Primary Producers Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 are available for primary producers who have seen significant damage to assets due to the fire.
There are eligibility requirements, to find out more and to apply go to the Rural Finance website.
Livestock
Landholders concerned about livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226.
Emergency Fodder Support can be accessed, for information visit the Victorian Farmers Federation website.
Livestock Disposal after a bushfire information can be found at Agriculture Victoria or calling 0407 145 007.
Fencing – to find out if your damage is eligible for support you can contact the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action on 136 186 or visit their web page here.
Counselling
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. They are also available to assist primary producers with understanding and applying for recovery support. They can be contacted on 1300 771 741.
The Look Over the Farm Gate (LOTFG) program is delivered by the National Centre for Farmer Health and can help with grants for events and activities to help support community mental health and wellbeing. Information is available on the National Centre for Farmer Health website.
Rural Aid Australia offers financial assistance and free counselling for affected farmers. More information can be found on the Rural Aid Australia website.
Business Support
Help for businesses affected by the January 2026 Vic Fires including:
- Prolonged Power Outage Payments
- Business Recovery Advisory Service
- Small Business Financial Counselling.
How to Help
If you are donating, make sure your contribution goes where it is needed most. You can give your time, money or goods through one of the ways listed on the Vic Emergency website here.
During emergency events, scammers often exploit the public’s goodwill. They may impersonate legitimate charities, offer fake door-to-door services, or create fraudulent fundraising pages. It is crucial to verify the legitimacy of any offer or donation request.
Helpful links
Relief and Recovery - VicEmergency
Agriculture Victoria Resource Directory
Agriculture Victoria Bushfire Information