Emergency financial assistance will be available to Victorians significantly affected by this week’s fires, so communities can return to normal life as quickly as possible
Commonwealth Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, and Victorian Minister for Emergency Services, Jane Garrett, today announced that assistance will be made available under the jointly-funded Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
Under the Personal Hardship Assistance Program the following assistance will be available to eligible households:
• Emergency relief assistance, which provides payments of up to $520 per adult and $260 per child (up to a maximum of $1,300 per household) to cover emergency shelter, food, clothing, or personal items; and
• Emergency re-establishment assistance, which provides up to $31,950 per household for clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairs, rebuilding (a principal place of residence) and replacing some damaged contents.
This assistance is available to eligible Victorians in extreme hardship. Personnel from the Department of Human Services, Red Cross, Victorian Council of Churches and the Salvation Army have been on the ground since Tuesday night, working with councils to support affected residents.
Anyone seeking emergency support, including advice about eligibility for financial assistance under the Personal Hardship Assistance Program, should call the Victorian Emergency Recovery Information Line on 1300 799 232.
Information is also available on the Emergency Relief and Recovery Victoria website, www.recovery.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to The Hon Michael Keenan, Commonwealth Minister for Justice
“These personal hardship grants will assist with immediate essential health, safety and wellbeing needs, and help people to re-establish their damaged homes.”
“Our governments will continue to work together to assist disaster-affected communities.”
Quotes attributable to Jane Garrett, Victorian Minister for Emergency Services
“We’re working with the Commonwealth on the relief and recovery effort, so communities and families can return to normal life as quickly as possible.”
“In the wake of a disaster, it’s our duty to support communities and help them recover.”
Reviewed 19 August 2020