Recovery information
Help is available for people impacted by the February 2024 Western Victorian bushfires.
We can help you with things like:
- insurance claims and legal matters
- financial support
- mental health and wellbeing
- finding local services in your area.
You can also call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
If you’ve been affected by a different emergency, there are general services that can provide you with help or advice.
Recovery services, wellbeing and support
Find out more about the support, advice and counselling available as you and your family recover from storms, bushfires or floods.
If your home was damaged
Check your home and property for damage. Remember to take photos of any damage. Electricity, gas and water supplies may be disrupted. If your property has been damaged, have all utilities checked and tested by a licensed technician before you use them.
Depending on your situation you should:
- contact your insurer to make a claim or arrange permanent repairs
- contact a professional tradesperson to repair damage or remove debris, if required.
If you need to organise repairs to your home, Consumer Affairs Victoria has recovery advice to help with clean up, repairs and building issues.
Financial help
Recovering from a natural disaster will take time. There are a lot of financial decisions to think about straight away, and over the months ahead.
A financial counsellor can help you make a plan to manage your money and prioritise your bills and other payments. They can also talk to creditors on your behalf and negotiate affordable payment plans.
Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial adviser.
You could also call:
- Mob Strong Debt Help for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 1800 808 488
- Small Business Debt Helpline 1800 413 828
- Rural Financial Counselling Services for primary producers and small, related rural businesses 1300 771 741
Donate
If you would like to support those affected by the Victorian bushfires, you can donate through the not-for-profit donation service GIVIT(opens in a new window).
Updated