Recovery support
After an emergency it can be difficult to know what to do next. We can help you with things like:
- Insurance claims and legal matters
- Financial support
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Finding local services in your area
or call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760.
You can also use any of the supports on the recovery services page.
Recovery services, wellbeing and support
Find out more about the support, advice and counselling available as you and your family recover from storms, bushfires or floods.
Clean-up support
Hazardous trees
If there are dangerous trees or hanging branches on your property from the February 2024 Victorian storms, you may be eligible to have them removed or pruned for free.
If your home was damaged
Check your home and property for damage. Remember to take photos of any damage. Electricity, gas and water supplies may be disrupted. If your property has been damaged, have all utilities checked and tested by a licensed technician before you use them.
Depending on your situation you should:
- Contact your insurer to make a claim or arrange permanent repairs.
- Contact a professional tradesperson to repair damage or remove debris, if required.
If you need to organise repairs to your home, Consumer Affairs Victoria has advice to help with clean up, repairs and building issues in a disaster.
If your home was damaged beyond repair
If your home was damaged beyond repair by the February 2024 Victorian storms, you may be eligible to have it demolished for free. This means you can focus on the next steps of rebuilding.
Financial help
Financial counselling
Recovering from a natural disaster will take time. There are a lot of financial decisions to think about straight away, and over the months ahead.
A financial counsellor can help you make a plan to manage your money and prioritise your bills and other payments. They can also talk to creditors on your behalf and negotiate affordable payment plans.
Call the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 to speak to a financial advisor.
You could also call the:
- Mob Strong Debt Helpline for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - 1800 808 488
- Small Business Debt Helpline - 1800 413 828
- Rural Financial Counselling Service for primary producers and small, related rural businesses – 1300 771 741
Emergency re-establishment assistance
Emergency re-establishment assistance is available if your home has been damaged by the storms and you:
- do not earn much money
- do not have building or contents insurance
- cannot return home because your home is damaged or destroyed
- cannot return to your home for more than 7 days.
How to apply
For information about how to apply for this payment, call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 9 for an interpreter).
Donate
If you would like to support those affected by the Victorian storms, you can donate through the not-for-profit donation service GIVIT(opens in a new window).
Updated