Victorian Bushfires (commencing 7 January 2026)

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) provides one-off financial assistance to eligible Australians adversely affected by the Victorian Bushfires (January 2026).

The rate of AGDRP is $1000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child. Claims for this payment can be lodged with Services Australia for a period up to 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 Victorian Bushfires (January 2026).

You have until 29 July 2026 to lodge a claim for AGDRP in the fourteen (14) local government areas of Ararat, Colac Otway, Corangamite, Greater Bendigo, Horsham, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong and West Wimmera. Please note: AGDRP is available in specified suburbs. Refer to the Services Australia website for the list of suburbs.​

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

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 Victorian Bushfires (January 2026).

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 the Victorian Bushfires (January 2026).

You have until 29 July 2026 to lodge a claim for NZ DRP in the fourteen (14) local government areas of Ararat, Colac Otway​,​ Corangamite, Greater Bendigo, Horsham, Mansfield, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong and West Wimmera. Please note: AGDRP is available in specified suburbs. Refer to the Services Australia website for the list of suburbs.​

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 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 Victorian Bushfires (commencing 7 January 2026).

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 21 July 2026 to lodge a claim for DRA in the twenty-three (23) LGAs of Alpine, Ararat, Benalla, Campaspe, Colac Otway, Corangamite, East Gippsland, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Horsham, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong, Wellington, Wodonga and Yarra Ranges; and one (1) unincorporated area of Lake Mountain Alpine Resort.​

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

New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance

The New Zealand Disaster Recovery Allowance (NZ DRA) provides income support paymen​ts to employees, primary producers and sole traders who can demonstrate they have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the Victorian Bushfires (commencing 7 January 2026).

NZ 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.

NZ DRA is available to Australian residents who are 16 years and older.

NZ 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 21 July 2026 to lodge a claim for DRA in the twenty-three (23) LGAs of Alpine, Ararat, Benalla, Campaspe, Colac Otway, Corangamite, East Gippsland, Golden Plains, Greater Bendigo, Horsham, Macedon Ranges, Mansfield, Mildura, Mitchell, Moira, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi, Pyrenees, Strathbogie, Towong, Wellington, Wodonga and Yarra Ranges; and one (1) unincorporated area of Lake Mountain Alpine Resort

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 Victorian Bushfires, the available assistance measures may include:

• emergency relief assistance
• emergency re-establishment assistance
• community recovery officer
• personal and financial counselling
• removal of debris
• prolonged power outage payment for residential customers
• counter disaster operations
• restoration of essential public assets
• concessional loans for primary producers.​​

Additional Recovery Assistance Measures

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

• Emergency Fodder Support for Primary Producer - This package will provide emergency fodder to primary producers in impacted areas.
• Community Recovery Officer and Community Recovery Hubs Program – To support the engagement of Community Recovery Officers and establishment of Community Recovery Hubs to support affected communities in identifying and addressing recovery needs.
• Council Support Fund - Grants to support impacted councils with clean-up and recovery activities.
• Primary Producer Grants – Grants of up to $75,000 to support primary producers with the cost of clean-up and other emergency measures.
• State-coordinated Clean-up Program - To support clean-up works required for bushfire affected homeowners, businesses and community assets.
• Case Support to Business Owners – To support small businesses to navigate and address their immediate relief and recovery needs, through a Business Recovery Advisory Service and Specialised Small Business Financial Counselling.
• Harcourt Cool Stores Grant Program – Assistance to support the reconstruction of the Harcourt Cool Stores.
• Public Land and Waterways Recovery – To support immediate activities that will rehabilitate and restore public land and waterways.
• Prolonged Power Outage Payments for Businesses Support to small businesses who have experienced power outages for at least seven cumulative days with a payment of $3,088 per week, for up to three weeks.
• Carcass Disposal on Property – To support landholders to efficiently and safely dispose of deceased livestock.
• Recovery Water Tank Rebates – Financial assistance to rural households who have lost access to reticulated water.

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.​