Disaster Recovery Allowance
The Disaster Recovery Allowance (DRA) provides income support payments to employees, primary producers and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the bushfires.
DRA provides fortnightly payments for up to 13 weeks up to the applicable rate of JobSeeker Payment or Youth Allowance, depending on the person's circumstances.
DRA is available to Australian residents who are 16 years and older.
DRA is not available to those already receiving another income support payment or pension such as the Age Pension, JobSeeker Payment or Service Pension.
You have until 5 August 2025 to lodge a claim for DRA in the seven (7) local government areas of Ararat, Hindmarsh, Horsham, Macedon Ranges, Northern Grampians, Southern Grampians and West Wimmera.
For eligibility information, contact the Australian Government Information Hotline on 180 22 66 for claims for assistance or visit the Services Australia website.
Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements
The joint Australian, state and territory government Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) provide a range of financial assistance to the natural disaster-declared areas in each state or territory.
For the Western Victoria bushfires, the available assistance measures may include:
- removal of debris
- counter disaster operations
- restoration of essential public assets
- personal and financial counselling
- emergency relief assistance.
Additional Recovery Assistance Measures
Under the DRFA, the following extraordinary assistance measures have been activated for this disaster:
- a Business Bushfire Recovery Support Package including:
- Business Bushfire Recovery Grants of $5,000 for businesses that have experienced significant disruptions and revenue losses due to the bushfires
- a Business Recovery Advisory service to provide free, confidential and one-on-one professional support to affected businesses.
- a Tourism Support Package, for tourism marketing and promotional activities to attract visitors to the Grampians National Park and increase visitation to the region
- an Early Environmental Recovery Package, to support survival of key native species and the early recovery and restoration of fire-impacted public lands.
For information on available recovery assistance, visit the
Emergency Recovery Victoria 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.
