State government support

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.

A payment if you can't return home because it was damaged or destroyed, you don't have insurance and you can't afford repairs. Apply through the Emergency Recovery Hotline – 1800 560 760 (press 4)

A one-off, non-means tested lump sum payment. It’s available if you’ve had major damage to your home or major assets that you own at your home. These payments close on 5 August 2026.

Apply online – servicesaustralia.gov.au/vic-bushfires-jan-2026-agdrp

An allowance for up to 13 weeks to help if you have lost income as a direct result of the bushfires. Apply online – servicesaustralia.gov.au/vic-bushfires-jan-2026-dra

This funding closes on 21 July 2026.

Services Australia (formerly Centrelink) provides assistance to farm households with a 'Farm Household Allowance'. This can help farmers and their partners with:

• a fortnightly payment for up to 4 years in a 10-year period
• supplements to pay for activities to help improve your long-term financial position.

Find out more details about what is included, how to apply and what to expect:

• Services Australia Factsheet - Farm Household financial help and other support(PDF, 503KB)
• Services Australia Factsheet Farm Household Claiming Checklist(PDF, 592KB)
• Services Australia Factsheet - Farm Household Allowance what to expect(PDF, 488KB)

The Victorian Government has provided 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 bushfires. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Applications are now open and will close at 4pm on 21 October 2026.

Apply online – ruralfinance.com.au/grants/

The Victorian Government has announced measures to support Victorian primary producers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires. These measures include Primary Producer Bushfire Recovery Concessional Loans of up to $250,000 to assist primary producers who have suffered significant damage to their assets as a direct result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires. The program is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Applications are now open and will close on 21 October 2026 at 4:00pm.

Apply online – ruralfinance.com.au/loans/

A financial counsellor can help you make a plan to manage your money. They can also talk to creditors on your behalf. Call the:

• National Debt Helpline – 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial advisor.
• Mob Strong Debt Helpline for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people – 1800 808 488
• Small Business Debt Helpline – 1800 413 828
• Rural Financial Counselling Service for primary producers – 1300 771 741

Business Victoria’s Business Recovery Advisers can act as a concierge service, helping you to navigate available support services. They can also provide guidance to help your business with longer-term recovery.

Experienced business recovery advisers will help you to:

More information – business.vic.gov.au

Closing date - 31 October 2026

The Small Business Financial Counselling service will provide small business owners with information, support and advice on managing debt and financial issues, both personal and business-related.

The specialist financial counsellors can offer guidance on complex matters, including:

This is free and confidential financial counselling to businesses who are who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship due to the bushfires. More information – business.vic.gov.au

Closing date 31 October 2026.

Help with things like demolition and removal of hazardous materials. For people who are uninsured and under-insured. More information – vic.gov.au/clean-support-january-2026-bushfires

Further information on Temporary Homes is available on this webpage:

Temporary accommodation (on property)

The Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service is a holistic trauma informed legal service for Aboriginal people. They can be contacted on 1800 064 865 or www.vals.org.au .

If essential water is taken from your land to fight fires, you can request for it to be replaced. More information – ffm.vic.gov.au/recovery-after-an-emergency/public-land-recovery

Murrindindi residents can still dispose of all bushfire-related waste at Council Transfer Stations.

Council has been advocating for State Government subsidies to continue after 30 June for residents with free transfer station gate fees. However, at this stage only the waiver for the EPA levies for disposal at regional landfill sites has been extended until 28 October.

This means Council gate fees at local transfer stations will resume from 1 July for general bushfire waste taken to landfill by affected residents.

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Eligible property owners may get support to repair fencing if:

• firefighting or disaster response teams brought about the damage, or
• the fence is on the boundary of National Parks, State Parks or State Forests.

Find out if your damage is eligible – contact DEECA on 136 186 or Public land recovery

There are land surveyors who will provide professional advice on surveys and perform title boundary surveys at a discounted rate, only covering costs or less.

Contact – Surveyor-General Victoria on (03) 9194 0282 or email surveyor.general@transport.vic.gov.au for further information. 

To request fodder, contact the Victorian Farmers Federation on 1300 882 833 or vff.org.au/vff-emergencyfodderrequestform

Landholders concerned about livestock welfare and agistment can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226 or www.agriculture.vic.gov.au 

If you have lost your identification as a result of the January bushfires - you can apply for replacements on the Births, Deaths and Marriages website.