Victorian bushfires and storms: commencing 13 February 2024

​​Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements

The joint Australian, state and territory governments' Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.

For the Victorian bushfires and storms, the available assistance measures include:

Personal hardship and distress assistance in the thirty-seven (37) local government areas of:

For information on personal hardship and distress assistance, including eligibility and how to apply, visit the Personal Hardship Assistance Program - DFFH Services website.

Removal of debris​ in the thirty-four (34) local government areas of:

Personal and financial counselling in the thirty-four (34) local government areas of:

A Community Recovery Officer covering the five (5) local government areas of:

• Ararat
• Cardinia
• Casey
  
• South Gippsland
• Yarra Ranges.
  

Prolonged power outage payment for residential households in the thirty-eight (38) local government areas of:

Counter disaster operations in the thirty-five (35) local government areas of:

Restoration of essential public assets in the thirty-four (34) local government areas of:

Additional Recovery Assistance Measures

Under the DRFA, the following extraordinary assistance measures have been activated for this disaster:

• Prolonged power outage payment for small businesses: eligible small businesses will receive $2,927 per week. Payments will commence after seven days of power outage due to the storm event (12.01am Tuesday 20 February 2024), with payments capped at three weeks.
• Green Waste Clean Up Program: to establish facilities to dispose of green waste from street debris, hazardous trees and residential properties.
• Council Support Fund: to provide grants to councils to support immediate clean-up activities and restoration and repairs to non-essential assets and infrastructure.

For information on available recovery assistance, visit the Victorian Government recovery support website.

For further information on recovery arrangements, visit the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements page.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will replace passports that have been lost or damaged in declared natural disasters free of charge, visit the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

The above assistance may be available in the following local government area(s)

Western Victoria – Bushfires – February 2024

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the bushfires in Western Victoria in February 2024.  

The payment rate is $1000 per eligible adult, and $400 per eligible child. Claims for this payment can be lodged with Services Australia for a period of 6 months.

AGDRP is available for people who have been seriously injured, have lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, whose major assets have been directly damaged or are the immediate family members of an Australian citizen or resident who has died as a direct result of the bushfires in Western Victoria in February 2024.  

You have until 28 August 2024 to lodge a claim for AGDRP in the three (3) local government areas of Rural City of Ararat, Rural City of Horsham and Shire of Pyrenees. Note the AGDRP for this event is only available in specific localities in these three declared LGAs. Refer to the Services Australia website for the list of localities.

For eligibility information, visit the Services Australia website or contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims assistance.​​

New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment

The New Zealand Disaster Recovery Payment (NZ DRP) is available to eligible New Zealand 'non-protected' special category visa (SCV) (subclass 444) holders who have been adversely affected by the bushfires in Western Victoria in February 2024.

The payment rate is $1000 per eligible adult, and $400 per eligible child. Claims for this payment can be lodged with Services Australia for a period of 6 months.

The payment is available for non-protected SCV holders who have been seriously injured, have lost their homes or whose homes have been directly damaged, whose major assets have been directly damaged or are the immediate family members of an Australian citizen or resident who has died as a direct result of the bushfires in Western Victoria in February 2024. 

You have until 28 August 2024 to lodge a claim for AGDRP in the three (3) local government areas of Rural City of Ararat, Rural City of Horsham and Shire of Pyrenees. Note the AGDRP for this event is only available in specific localities in these three declared LGAs. Refer to the Services Australia website for the list of localities.

For eligibility information, visit the Services Australia website or contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims assistance.