Close to $100 million in additional support will be rolled out to help Victorian communities and businesses recover from the recent bushfires, with the state and federal governments expanding assistance in response to needs identified on the ground.
The package, jointly funded by the Albanese and Allan Governments under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, builds on earlier measures and is aimed at supporting households, councils and primary producers as the long recovery process begins.
Premier Jacinta Allan said the focus was on practical help for people whose lives and livelihoods had been upended. “These fires have devastated communities across Victoria—and we’re delivering more support to help people rebuild their lives and livelihoods,” she said. “From clean-up and financial counselling to support for farmers and councils, this package delivers practical help where it’s needed most.”
More than $15 million has been set aside to establish Community Recovery Officers and Recovery Hubs across bushfire-affected areas. The hubs will act as a single point where residents can access services and information from government and community organisations, while recovery officers embedded within councils will work directly with locals to identify needs and design tailored programs.
Councils will receive between $450,000 and $1.3 million to employ recovery staff and deliver local initiatives, and community organisations will be able to apply for grants of up to $75,000 for locally led projects aimed at helping communities get back on their feet.
Households impacted by extended power outages will also receive targeted assistance, with up to $16 million allocated for prolonged power outage payments. Eligible households that have been without electricity for seven or more days within a two-week period will be entitled to $2,380 per week for up to three weeks, helping families manage the immediate disruption caused by the fires.
Primary producers, many of whom have suffered heavy losses, will be supported through an initial $40 million in recovery grants of up to $75,000. The funding can be used for clean-up, disposing of livestock, rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring farm operations. A further $10 million has been committed to concessional loans, with amounts of up to $250,000 available for producers who have sustained major asset damage and up to $100,000 for those facing severe income loss.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management Kristy McBain said cooperation between governments was central to the response. “This has been a tough time for many communities across Victoria,” she said. “The Albanese Government is working hand in hand with the Allan Government to make sure those communities have the resources they need to recover. We’ll continue to deliver practical assistance on the ground so people can focus on rebuilding and moving forward.”
Local councils will receive almost $12 million through a dedicated Council Support Fund to help restore community assets and services damaged by the fires. The funding will be used for clean-up and repairs to parks, sporting grounds, community centres and other shared spaces that play a central role in bringing communities back together. Councils will be eligible for up to $750,000, depending on the scale of the impact, and the fund will remain active for two years to allow time for reconstruction.
Financial counselling will form another pillar of the recovery effort, with more than $4 million allocated to help individuals, families and businesses navigate grants, insurance claims and debt issues. Specialist counsellors will assist people to access emergency assistance, manage payment plans and seek fee waivers, while also advocating with insurers and creditors where needed. The funding will also strengthen the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Financial Capability Support Program, offering tailored advice to primary producers during recovery.
Victorian Minister for Natural Disaster Recovery Vicki Ward said sustained support was essential. “Recovery has a very long tail—that’s why we’re making sure people have clear information and practical support for the road ahead,” she said. “Our priority is to ease the pressure on families and businesses and help communities recover.”
The new measures add to earlier support, including waste disposal assistance, emergency fodder deliveries and help with temporary accommodation. Emergency relief payments remain available for eligible Victorians whose homes were destroyed or who were forced to evacuate, and affected residents can contact the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 for information about available programs.
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