Australian banks and governments are rolling out financial and practical support for people, businesses and farmers impacted by the January 2026 Victorian bushfires, as a State of Disaster remains in place across much of the state.
Australian Banking Association (ABA) CEO Simon Birmingham (pictured) said banks were closely monitoring the evolving situation and are ready to help impacted customers.
“This is an extremely challenging time for many Victorian communities, households, and businesses,” Birmingham said in a media release. “There are now special arrangements in place for those who may need additional financial assistance from their bank in the coming days, weeks, and months.
“Banks have highly experienced specialist teams ready to help individual and business customers across the state. If you need financial relief, please reach out to your bank as soon as possible so support can quickly be put in place.
Depending on individual circumstances, banks may offer:
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) will be available from 2 pm local time on 14 January for people directly affected by the Victorian bushfires that began in January 2026.
You may be eligible if you or a child in your care were directly affected through:
To qualify, these impacts must have occurred in one of the declared areas:
Major damage to a principal place of residence includes where:
AGDRP is a one-off, non-means-tested lump sum payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children. More information will be available from 2 pm on 14 January on the Services Australia website.
The Victorian government is providing additional recovery support through the Personal Hardship Assistance Program for people whose homes and livelihoods have been affected.
Emergency relief payments are available if you have unmet immediate needs and:
Under this program, eligible people can receive:
These payments help cover essentials such as food, clothing, medication and temporary accommodation. They are fixed amounts per household member and are not based on income.
Re-establishment Assistance of up to $52,250 is available for eligible homeowners and renters who have suffered serious damage and do not have the financial means to re-establish their homes. This support is means-tested and jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
Emergency re-establishment payments can be accessed by people who:
The affected home must be the principal place of residence. Eligible renters can receive support to cover alternative accommodation and essential household items. To check eligibility or apply, call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 or visit emergency.vic.gov.au/relief.
Short-term emergency accommodation is available for people who cannot go home because of the bushfires and have no other place to stay. Before seeking this support, people are encouraged to:
Insurance policies may cover temporary accommodation costs, but limits and timeframes differ. Policyholders are advised to check whether they have a total budget or a time limit and consider lower-cost options such as longer-term rentals rather than high nightly rate hotels to stretch their entitlement.
The Emergency Recovery Support Program provides tailored assistance for people directly impacted by the January 2026 fires. Recovery support officers can:
If you need extra support, you may be connected with a dedicated recovery support worker. Emergency Recovery Support is available via the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 9 for an interpreter, or call TIS on 131 450).
Landholders concerned about livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 1800 226 226 via the VicEmergency Hotline. Agriculture Victoria will work with the fire Incident Controller to safely assess requests.
Farmers can access emergency fodder for livestock affected by the fires. The Victorian Farmers Federation will coordinate the supply, transport and distribution of fodder, with further details to be provided on its website.
The Rural Financial Counselling Service (RFCS) is available to bushfire-affected primary producers, offering free, confidential financial and business counselling alongside wellbeing support. RFCS wellbeing counsellors can visit affected properties or provide phone support by calling 1300 771 741.
The Look Over the Farm Gate (LOTFG) program, delivered by the National Centre for Farmer Health, has been brought forward to open on 16 January 2026. The program provides grants of up to $5,000 for community events and activities that support mental health and wellbeing in farming communities. Further information will be available on the National Centre for Farmer Health website when applications open.
Bushfire-affected Victorians dealing with complex insurance or legal issues can access free, independent advice before accepting any settlement offers from insurers.
Available support includes:
Emergency Recovery Victoria continues to work with emergency services, councils and community groups to assess recovery needs and support affected communities. For general support and ongoing recovery services, visit the state’s official recovery, wellbeing and support webpages.
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