For the latest official advice, evacuation warnings and maps, visit the VicEmergency website or app and ensure notifications are switched on. 

Community Recovery Hubs

Alexandra

Alexandra Library, 49 Grant Street. For opening times and services please visit the council website.

Corryong

Corner Donaldson Street and Hanson Street. For opening times and services please visit the council website.

Euroa

34 Railway Street. For opening times and services please visit the council website.

Mansfield

Mansfield Visitor Information Centre, 175 High St. For opening times and services please visit the council website.

Tallangatta

Tallangatta Bushfire Recovery Centre, 34 Towong Street, (next to Council offices). For opening times and services please visit the council website.

Yea

Yea Civic Complex, 15 The Semicircle. For opening times and services please visit the council website.

People who have been directly affected by the bushfires may be eligible for an Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment. This is a one off, non-means tested lump sum payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children, available from 14 January 2026.

Joint Federal and Victorian Government bushfire relief payments are now available. One-off payments of $680 per adult and $340 per child are available, with a maximum payment of $2,380 for eligible families. These payments are intended to help cover essential costs such as food, clothing, medication and accommodation.  Payments can be accessed at Emergency Relief Centres or by calling the VicEmergency hotline on 1800 226 226. More information is available here.

The Victorian Government has activated emergency assistance grants of up to $52,250 for people to re-establish their principal place of residence for people who do not have the insurance they needed to have.

Emergency Recovery Victoria is working with local councils to assess recovery needs and coordinate further assistance. 

Banks, including ANZ, NAB and CBA are providing relief grants to their impacted customers. If you’re a customer, please contact your bank.   

An additional $19.5 million relief package includes $10 million to assist getting fodder to farmers suffering livestock losses, $1.5 million for emergency accommodation and $1 million for mental health support. 

To access the emergency agriculture relief, please visit the Victorian Farmers Federation website.

Primary Producer Recovery Grants 

An initial $40 million in grants of up to $75,000 will be provided to eligible primary producers, to help cover the costs of clean-up and reinstating their enterprises. 

Funding can be used for essential recovery activities such as disposing of livestock, rebuilding or replacing damaged on-farm infrastructure, and restoring operations. 

Grants will open as soon as possible and will be delivered by Rural Finance. Information on eligibility and how to apply will be available at www.ruralfinance.com.au.  

Primary Producers Recovery Loans 

Loans of up to $250,000 will be available for producers who have suffered significant damage to assets, while loans of up to $100,000 will support those experiencing a major loss of income. 

This assistance will further help cover essential costs such as repairing or replacing damaged equipment, rebuilding infrastructure, purchasing livestock, and meeting working capital expenses like wages, rent, and fodder. 

Emergency Fodder 

Farmers can access emergency fodder for livestock affected by the fires. 

The Victorian Farmers Federation will lead the supply, transport, and distribution of fodder. Further details about the program will be made available on the Victorian Farmers Federation website, or you can call them at 1300 882 833.  

Bushfires are deeply traumatic events. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out for support. 

Lifeline: 13 11 14 

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 

Lifeline Text: 0477 13 11 14 

A confidential counselling service is available for bushfire-affected primary producers at 1300 771 741.

A full list of mental health support can be found here.

During emergencies, it’s our nature to want to help our communities. 

The most effective ways to assist right now are: 

• Donate directly to food relief providers, such as FoodShare. In Wodonga, FoodShare is accepting donations of tea, coffee, UHT milk, cereals, noodles, pasta, rice, microwaveable meals, tinned beans, sliced ham, sliced cheese, butter and personal hygiene items. 

• Check in on neighbours, such as older people, families with young children, and people living alone 

• Follow and share official information from VicEmergency 

Prolonged Power Outage Payment

Financial relief is available to households impacted by prolonged power outages caused by 2026 bushfires and heatwave.

Subject to specific eligibility criteria, residential customers without power for seven cumulative days 7 January 2026 will be eligible for $2,380 per week for up to three weeks.

AusNet will directly contact all customers who are eligible for this Prolonged Power Outage Payment, inviting them to apply.

Further information on eligibility and how to apply for the PPOP is available on AusNet’s website: www.ausnet.com.au/emergency-response.

Telstra has advised that teams are working to restore services in affected areas. Many disruptions are due to power outages and extreme heat impacting the network.  

Please check the following trackers for updates on outages and restoration timelines.  

Powercor: www.powercor.com.au/outages

AusNet: www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages or call AusNet’s Bushfire Support Line on 1300 561 171

CitiPower/Powercor: www.powercor.com.au/outages 

United Energy: www.unitedenergy.com.au/outages-emergencies 

Jemena: https://poweroutages.jemena.com.au/ 

If you are unsure of your distributor, please see: www.energy.vic.gov.au/for-households/find-your-energy-distributor.  

Photo: Steve Womersley/The Guardian.