Disasters, like the January 2026 Fires, can have a devastating impact on many lives. You don’t have to go through it alone. There are support, counselling and advice services available for you and your family.
If you or someone you know is in need of urgent assistance and feeling overwhelmed:
Children and young people can also access
You can register for the Emergency Recovery Support Program by calling 1800 560 760. This program helps people and families after a major emergency as it can be hard to know what to do next.
Register for the Emergency Recovery Support Program
Dr Rob Gordon is a clinical psychologist and who has worked with people and communities after traumatic events for almost 40 years. He is hosting recovery sessions across Murrindindi Shire. If you are not able to attend one of his "Looking after yourself and others after the fires" recovery sessions, you can also view a recording of the Alexandra session below:
For more information, contacts and resources, visit
Recovery support officers can guide you with things like:
- health and wellbeing services
- financial advice and assistance
- finding local services
- insurance and legal questions
- registering for government services.
Support can include advice, referrals, or more involved help if needed.
Local providers
Local medical providers can provide information about mental health and wellbeing including:
Are you a parent or carer impacted by the fires and struggling?
Children and young people may react differently depending on their age, personality and experiences. Common reactions include changes in sleep, behaviour, mood or concentration.
Resources to help includes:
Parents, carers and adults can support children by:
- listening calmly and answering questions honestly
- reassuring them that they are safe
- keeping routines where possible
- encouraging expression through play, drawing or conversation
- reaching out to their child’s school to discuss opportunities to access the range of student mental health and wellbeing supports that are available to them.
For more information, visit: Helping children and young people cope with crisis.[5]
The Parents and carers – mental health and wellbeing toolkit also provides information to help parents strengthen their child’s mental health and wellbeing at home, how to work with their school and seek help if they have concerns.
Carers Victoria can help carers:
- Understand what supports are available to you as a carer
- Navigate services in your local area
- Access carer specific support during recovery
- Find practical support when caring responsibilities are affected by an emergency
- Access information, advice and referrals when needed.
You can contact Carers Victoria Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on 1800 514 845.
Please reach out for help – don’t go it alone.
The National Centre for Farmer Health provides mental health resources for Victorian farmers and agricultural communities, including:
- distribution of mental health resources and support information
- the Managing Stress on the Farm book, which explores the common causes of stressors on farms and offers practical ways to deal with them
- a new mental health hub with tailored mental health information and resources: farmerhealth.org.au/support-hub-victoria.
- Business and farm financial counselling
Tailored recovery support is available for affected businesses, including farms:
These services are designed to support longer‑term farm viability, not just immediate relief.
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) offers specialist support to farmers and their communities.
They provide:
- financial counselling
- wellbeing support for mental stress from financial issues.
RFCS can help you to:
- develop strategies to cope with stress
- recognise signs of poor health in yourself or your workers
- set up a support network with family, friends or community
- find groups or activities in the community that can help
- access health services through referrals.
For more information, call 1300 735 578 or visit the RFCS website
Dr Rob Gordon is a clinical psychologist and who has worked with people and communities after traumatic events for almost 40 years.
Hear from him in this Coping with Natural Disasters videos, with information about mental wellbeing after a disaster.
Children and young people
Other information on helping children and young people through a disaster can be found at Trauma and children – tips for parents and carers | Better Health Channel.