Communities and businesses devastated by Victoria’s recent bushfires will receive close to $100 million in additional recovery support, with the Albanese and Allan Labor Governments announcing a major expansion of assistance to help households, councils and primary producers rebuild.
The expanded package is jointly funded under the Commonwealth–State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and builds on support already announced. It has been shaped by direct feedback from affected communities as they move from immediate response to long-term recovery.
Community Recovery Officers and Recovery Hubs
More than $15 million will be invested to establish Community Recovery Officers and Recovery Hubs across bushfire-affected areas, recognising that navigating recovery can be overwhelming for individuals and families.
Recovery Hubs will operate as one-stop shops, giving residents access to information and services from government agencies and community organisations. Dedicated Community Recovery Officers, embedded within local councils, will work directly with communities to identify needs, design tailored recovery programs and provide on-the-ground support.
Councils will receive between $450,000 and $1.3 million to employ recovery staff and deliver local initiatives, while community organisations will be able to apply for grants of up to $75,000 for locally led projects.
Prolonged Power Outage Payments
Up to $16 million will be made available to support households impacted by extended power outages following the fires.
Eligible households that have been without power for seven or more days within a two-week period will receive $2,380 per week for up to three weeks, helping families manage essential costs during prolonged disruption.
Applications can be made through electricity distribution businesses, with details available at energy.vic.gov.au.
Support for Primary Producers
Recognising the critical role of agriculture in regional economies, the governments will deliver a comprehensive package to support farmers and producers.
An initial $40 million will fund Primary Producer Recovery Grants of up to $75,000 to assist with clean-up and reinstatement. Funding can be used for activities such as disposing of livestock, rebuilding damaged infrastructure and restoring operations.
In addition, a further $10 million will be provided in concessional loans, with:
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loans of up to $250,000 for producers who have suffered significant asset damage, and
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loans of up to $100,000 for those experiencing major income loss.
Both grants and loans will be delivered by Rural Finance, with applications opening as soon as possible via ruralfinance.com.au.
Council Support Fund
Almost $12 million will be delivered through a Council Support Fund to help bushfire-affected councils restore vital community assets and services.
The fund will support clean-up and repairs to parks, community centres, playgrounds, sporting facilities and other public spaces, helping communities reconnect and recover. Councils will receive up to $750,000, depending on the scale of local impacts, with the fund operating for two years to allow time for reconstruction.
Financial Counselling and Community Support
More than $4 million will be invested in financial counselling services to help affected Victorians access assistance, navigate insurance and recovery systems, and stabilise their finances.
Specialist counsellors will support individuals and families to access grants, manage insurance claims, replace essential items and negotiate with creditors. The funding will also expand the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Financial Capability Support Program, providing tailored advice for primary producers.
Ongoing Assistance
The new measures build on recovery support already in place, including waste disposal, emergency fodder deliveries and emergency accommodation assistance.
Victorians can call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 for information about payments and recovery programs. Emergency relief payments remain available for eligible households whose homes were destroyed or who were required to evacuate, with information available through VicEmergency on 1800 226 226.
The 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal is now open to support fire-affected communities, with donations available via vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bushfire-Appeal.