Lists all bushfire grants and financial assistance for Victorians affected by the bushfires.

Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund

The following emergency payments are now available through the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund.

Compassion and Bereavement Payment (DHS)
A Compassion and Bereavement Payment is available to assist families of individuals who have died in the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
You have until 31 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Compassion and Bereavement Payment.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on1800 180 213.

Emergency Tools of Trade Payment for Individuals (DHS)
You are eligible for the Emergency Tools of Trade Payment if, as a result of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, you have lost equipment vital to your trade and employment (including safety equipment) and are an employee working for a registered business. ABN not required.
You have until 31 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Emergency Tools of Trade Payment.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on1800 180 213.

Household Repairs Payment (DHS)
You are eligible for the Household Repairs Payment if you are the owner of your primary place of residence and it has been damaged but not destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
You have until 30 June 2009 to lodge a claim for the Household Repairs.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on1800 180 213.

Initial Home Dislocation Payment (DHS)
A one off payment is available to people whose principal place of residence is unfit to live in or inaccessible for more than 1 week as a result of the 2009 Victoria Bushfire.
You have until 31 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Initial Home Dislocation Payment.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on1800 180 213.

Severe Injury Payment (DHS)
A grant of up to $7,500 is available to people who were injured by the bushfire and stayed overnight in hospital and have had or will require additional surgery or hospital treatment.
You have until 31 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Severe Injury Payment.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on1800 180 213.

Local Government Payment (DHS)
Bushfire-affected councils will share in $9 million from the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund, to deliver disaster-related services that directly benefit residents.

Destroyed Homes Payments (DHS)
You are eligible for the Rehousing and Recovery - Destroyed Homes Payment if you are the owner/occupier whose residence has been destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires. The residence must have been your principal place of residence at the time of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.
You have until 30 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Rehousing and Recovery – Destroyed Homes payment. Applications beyond this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.

Damaged Homes Payment (DHS)
You may be eligible for the Rehousing & Recovery Grant – Damaged Homes Payment if your home has been damaged and is in need or repair as a result of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. The Rehousing & Recovery - Damaged Homes Payment is to assist with the repair of bushfire damage to homes, outbuildings or other structures to your principal place of residence. This grant is only available to home owners, where it is your principal place of residence.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.

Tenant Contents Payment (DHS)
You are eligible for the Rehousing and Recovery - Tenant Contents Payment if you are the tenant whose primary place of residence was destroyed as a result of the 2009 Victorian Bushfire
You have until 30 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Rehousing and Recovery - Tenant Contents Payment. Applications beyond this date will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.

Rural Properties Recovery Assistance Payment (DHS)
You are eligible for the Rural Properties Recovery Assistance payment if you own a property in the bushfire affected area that has suffered damage or destruction.
You have until 31 December 2009 to lodge a claim for the Rural Properties Recovery Assistance Payment.
Further enquiries can be made by calling the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund on 1800 180 213.

Victorian Grants

Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development

Bushfires Community Events Program (DIIRD)
The Bushfires Community Events Program will provide grants of up to $3000 to local governments and community organisations in fire-affected communities, enabling them to host community events and activities.

Department of Planning and Community Development

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) offer a range of new and existing Grants for Fire Affected Communities:

Emergency Volunteer Support Grants - Bushfire Relief (DPCD)
Applications for these grant programs are now closed. These programs have provided more than $1.5 million to more than 100 organisations to support volunteers in bushfire-affected communities across Victoria. All applications currently submitted are under assessment and applicants will be notified of the outcomes by 30 June 2009.

Victorian Volunteer Small Grants - Bushfire Relief (DPCD)
Applications for these grant programs are now closed. These programs have provided more than $1.5 million to more than 100 organisations to support volunteers in bushfire-affected communities across Victoria. All applications currently submitted are under assessment and applicants will be notified of the outcomes by 30 June 2009.

Special Grants to Neighbourhood Houses in Affected Areas (DPCD)
Funding up to $10,000. Neighbourhood Houses in bushfire-affected communities will receive a one-off grant to help with emergency relief and recovery activities. Affected houses will be contacted by the department shortly.

Community Recovery in Bushfire Affected Communities (DPCD)
The Commonwealth and Victorian Governments have established a $10 million Community Recovery Fund to help recovery and community development following the Bushfires. The Fund is intended to address longer-term recovery through the restoration of social networks, functioning and community facilities. The Fund will cover a range of projects such as the restoration of community infrastructure, community preparedness and resilience building activities.

Bushfire Relief for Community Sports Clubs Recovery Fund (DPCD)
In recognition of the importance of sporting facilities in regional and rural communities, $3 million from the Community Recovery Fund has been set aside for grants, of up to $100, 000 each, for sports clubs in Bushfire-affected areas for rebuilding and reparation works.

Department of Sustainability and Environment

Bushfire Wildlife Volunteer Grants Program (DSE)
The Victorian Government will provide up to $350,000 in grants for to assist volunteer wildlife rehabilitators, foster carers and veterinarians.
Phone 13 61 86

Rural Finance

Rural Finance is administering on behalf of the Victorian and Australian Governments, Clean-up and Restoration Grants and Concessional Loans to primary producers and small businesses whose properties have been physically affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

Primary Producers - Primary Producers whose properties have been physically affected in the 2009 bushfires are eligible to seek assistance in the form of grants and/or concessional loans:

• Clean-up and Restoration Grant - The Clean-up and Restoration Grant provides a one-off grant to primary producers who have suffered direct physical damage as a result of bushfire for clean up, removal of debris, animal welfare and business restoration.
• Other Forms of Assistance - These grants are part of the overall recovery process and there may be other assistance, information or services available for affected landholders. To find out more information contact the Victorian Bushfire Information Line on 1800 240 667.
• Application for Bushfire Initial Clean-up and Restoration Grant - Primary Producers
• Application for Bushfire Supplementary Grant - Primary Producers
• Clean-up and Restoration Grants Fact Sheet - Primary Producers
• Bushfire Assistance Loan - Concessional loans are available to eligible primary producers who have suffered losses as a result of physical bushfire damage to their property and who are assessed to be in need of financial assistance.

Small Businesses - Small Businesses physically affected in the 2009 bushfires are eligible to seek assistance in the form of grants and/or concessional loans.

• Clean-up and Restoration Grant - The Clean-up and Restoration Grant provide a one-off grant to small businesses who have suffered direct physical damage as a result of the 2009 bushfires in Victoria for clean-up, removal of debris and business restoration. They comprise two components, an initial grant of up to $5,000 and a supplementary grant of up to $20,000.
• To apply for the initial grant of up to $5,000, an Application for Bushfire Initial Clean-up and Restoration Grant – Small Businesses will need to be completed. ABN required.
• To apply for the supplementary grant of up to $20,000 the Application for Bushfire Supplementary Grant – Small Businesses should be completed. A detailed assessment of this application will be undertaken by an officer of Rural Finance.
• Bushfire Assistance Loan - Concessional loans are available to eligible small businesses that are assessed to be in need of financial assistance as a result of losses or damage caused by the physical impact of bushfire. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate that the business has reasonable prospects of trading profitably in the future including a capacity to service borrowings. Each case will be assessed on its merits.

State Revenue Office

The State Revenue Office has set up a special telephone hotline for anyone affected by the bushfires. Measures have been put in place to ensure stamp duty relief for those who lost family homes or vehicles in the fires.

• Cars - the first $1050 of stamp duty on a vehicle for those families who had lost a vehicle in the fires.
• Homes - the first $21,970 of stamp duty on new homes for those who had lost a home in the recent bushfires.

Phone 13 21 61 for further information

Transport Accident Commission

The Transport Accident Commission (TAC) has set up a dedicated team to manage enquiries from people affected by the bushfires. The TAC can help bushfire victims in the following ways:

• Cover medical costs and other services if you have been involved in a transport accident during the fires
• Provide compensation if you have lost a family member due to a transport accident during the fires.

The TAC encourages bushfire victims to contact the TAC on 1800 332 556 (toll-free outside Melbourne) or 1300 654 329 to lodge a claim.
There are TAC representatives on the ground at bushfire relief centres who can also help you lodge a claim.
For more information on the TAC and the support it can provide, please visit www.tac.vic.gov.au

Commonwealth Grants

The Australian Government has announced federal assistance for people affected by the fires that have devastated Victoria. Support is available for anyone who has been affected by the fire who meets the criteria. You do not need to be an existing Centrelink customer to receive this assistance.

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) (Centrelink)
Payments of $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per eligible child.
Claims for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment closed on 7 August 2009.
For eligibility or other queries contact Centrelink on 180 2211.

Funeral/Memorial Assistance (Centrelink)
A payment of $5,000 for funeral/memorial and any related costs for the immediate families of Australians who have died in the Bushfires in the State of Victoria that commenced 29 January and may continue into March 2009.
Factsheet and Claim Form are available.
You have until 7 August 2009 to lodge a claim.
For eligibility or to speak with a Centrelink social worker contact Centrelink on 180 2211.

Income Recovery Subsidy and Newstart Allowance (Centrelink)
Immediate financial assistance from the Commonwealth Government is also available to small business owners and farmers, as well as their employees, who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the Victorian bushfires.
Factsheet and Claim Form are available.
To receive the Income Recovery Subsidy Assistance, you must lodge your claim between 29th January 2009 and 12th May 2009.
For eligibility or other queries contact Centrelink on 180 2211.