Victoria’s bushfire season is far from over. The Victorian Government is committed to supporting local communities affected by the devastating fires.
This appeal will provide practical support as impacted Victorians begin to rebuild their lives.
How to donate
Donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal online or in person at any Bendigo Bank branch.
All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible. Donors will receive a tax receipt.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal is being conducted by the Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise ABN 69 694 230 518, The Bendigo Centre, PO Box 480, Bendigo VIC 3552.
The Foundation will make distributions to grant applicants, as recommended by the Advisory Panel, to organisations endorsed as item 1 Deductible Gift Recipients (DGR).
What the Victorian Bushfire Appeal supports
More than $19 million has been made available for those most affected by the bushfires.
Victorian Bushfire Appeal Community Grants Program
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel recognises that medium- to long-term recovery efforts are more effective when they are community-led.
The Community Enterprise Foundation, based on the recommendation of the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel, has approved an initial $4 million in funding for projects and programs aimed at community recovery across the Alpine, Towong and East Gippsland shires.
Organisations will be able to apply to the Community Enterprise Foundation for funding to address short to medium-term recovery needs that are endorsed as community recovery priorities by their local Community Recovery Committee.
All communities will have the opportunity to apply for funding, and applications can be submitted at any time, recognising that each community will recover at their own pace.
Victorian Bushfire Appeal funds are charitable in nature and can only be used to support charitable activities.
Organisations wishing to access these grants should contact their local council or Community Recovery Committee for information on how to apply.
Information about Community Recovery Committees can be accessed on the Bushfire Recovery Victoria .
Family Violence Services
In recognition of the fact that family violence escalates in the months following a disaster, the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel has committed almost $800,000 in Appeal funds to support family violence prevention and intervention work in bushfire impacted communities.
Gippsland Lakes Community Health, Gateway Health and Centre Against Violence are delivering new prevention and intervention programs as well as expanding and enhancing existing programs aimed at reducing the instances and impact of family violence.
People who have lost homes
Housing Assistance Payments of $25,000 have been made to owner/occupiers and renters whose principal place of residence was either destroyed or severely damaged by bushfire.
Payments are available through Windermere. Windermere are paying funds into the bank accounts of eligible individuals. To access the payment, please call Windermere on 1300 946 337 or email bushfirerecovery@windermere.org.au
Payments to families
Immediate payments of $50,000 have been made to each of the families of people who tragically died during Victoria’s recent bushfires.
Helping farmers
$1.525 million, provided through , is helping farmers replace boundary fences destroyed by the bushfires on their private property.
Visit the BlazeAid for information on how to access this support and also how to volunteer.
Immediate support
Funding of up to $4 million has been distributed to support residents in bushfire-affected areas who experienced loss of, or damage to, their primary residence.
Amount from $1,000 to $4,500 were made available to people who lost their principal place of residence. This included renters and home owners but did not include landlords.
These payments were made available through the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund, The Salvation Army and three Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations:
In East Gippsland, bushfire-affected community members can access this funding by contacting:
- Gippsland and East Gippsland Aboriginal Co-Operative on (03) 5150 0700; or
- Moogji Aboriginal Council East Gippsland on (03) 5154 2120.
In Northern Victoria, bushfire-affected community members can access this funding by contacting:
- Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency on (03) 9742 8399.
Victorian Bushfire Appeal Advisory Panel
An Advisory Panel, chaired by former Victorian Deputy Premier Pat McNamara, consider and recommend where funds are distributed.
Mr McNamara chairs the 7-person panel comprised of:
- David Impey, Chief Executive Officer, Community Enterprise Foundation
- Pam White, Chair, Country Fire Authority
- Joanne Duncan, Former member for Gisborne
- Natalie O’Connell, Councillor for East Gippsland Shire
- Sue Cunningham, Director, Victoria, Red Cross
- Lee Miezis, Chief Executive Officer, Bushfire Recovery Victoria
To contact the panel, please email vicbushfireappeal@brv.vic.gov.au
Where to get help
It is normal for a distressing or frightening event to affect you physically, mentally and emotionally. Long-running fires in your local area can be extremely stressful and can trigger emotional, physical and psychological reactions.
The Victorian Government is supporting on-the-ground services available to assist families to recover.
If at any time you are worried about your mental health or the mental health of a loved one, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
You can also contact:
- your doctor or local community health centre
- a counsellor or psychologist
- Parentline, Phone: 13 22 89
- Kids Helpline, Phone: 1800 55 1800
- NURSE-ON-CALL Phone: 1300 60 60 24 for expert health information and advice (24 hours, 7 days)
- Australian Psychological Society Referral Service, Phone: 1800 333 497
Call 000 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
Reviewed 12 November 2020