General News
16 January, 2026
Bushfire support announced
The Victorian and Australian governments have announced an almost $20 million support package for Victorian communities impacted by this summer’s bushfires.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Jacinta Allan visited emergency services on the ground in central Victoria earlier in the week to announce an initial $19.5 million support package for bushfire affected Victorians — jointly funded under the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
“The Federal Government is working hand in hand with the Victorian Government to provide immediate support for communities impacted by the devastating bushfires,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
While the full impact of the fires across the state is still being confirmed, it’s understood there have been significant losses of livestock, crops and other agricultural businesses across Victoria. The Albanese and Allan Governments will establish a $10 million emergency support program to help distribute fodder to those farmers who need it.
The governments will also collaboratively provide $1.5 million to coordinate emergency accommodation options for people who have nowhere else to go and have had to seek shelter in hotels, serviced apartments and other temporary places.
To address and reduce the trauma that has impacted many with these fires, $1 million will fund experts in disaster recovery mental health support to provide group counselling sessions so communities can better support one another and navigate their recovery together.
The governments will also establish the Recovery Support Program — one single point of help so people who’ve been impacted don’t have to deal with government red tape. Five million dollars in funding will ensure case support workers will be available for affected Victorians to help them navigate matters like housing, legal and financial support and practical help like accessing payments and grants.
A further $2 million will establish a recovery hotline, providing access to general information and help to navigate recovery services like the emergency accommodation.
The package builds on the Personal Hardship Assistance Program payments which have been activated for those who’ve had to evacuate their homes and need immediate things like food and medicine.
Assistance under the program includes a one-off payment of $680 per adult and $340 per child, up to a maximum of $2380 per eligible family.
More support will come as further impact assessments are done when it is safe to do so. For more information on relief and recovery visit the VicEmergency website.