Support for businesses impacted by January 2026 Victorian bushfires

Victorian Chamber 2026 Bushfire HR Support Helpline

If your business has been impacted by the January 2026 bushfires in a declared State of Disaster area, the Victorian Chamber offers free, practical HR guidance. Our workplace relations advisers can help with urgent HR questions, employee entitlements, and referrals to trusted contacts.

Support includes: 

• Pay and leave if staff are stood down (annual, personal/carer’s, unpaid leave, and related options) 
• Employee entitlements when staff cannot safely attend work (including leave and flexible arrangements) 
• Guidance on pay when sending staff home versus a government directive 
• Information on payments for employees affected by the fires 
• Referrals to additional support, helplines, and agencies (e.g., recovery grants, business advice, employment support)  

Eligibility:

Free for businesses in declared State of Disaster areas and impacted by the January 2026 bushfires. (Standard fees may apply for others.) 

Call 03 8662 5461 (Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm). If lines are busy, leave a message and we’ll call you back. Alternatively, email BushfireSupport@victorianchamber.com.au and we will contact you.

Mental health and wellbeing support

TELUS Mental Health Support Advice Line  

Business owners, leaders, managers, and employees of businesses with 200 or fewer workers can access free, confidential support, including up to four counselling sessions. Speak with a qualified counsellor for short-term advice and wellbeing strategies. 

Call TELUS Health on 1800 318 421 | Available 24/7 

Wellbeing and business counselling for farmers  

Free, confidential wellbeing support and financial/business counselling is available via the Rural Financial Counselling Service. 

Call the Rural Financial Counselling Service on 1300 045 747  

Personal wellbeing 

It’s normal to feel anxious or unwell after a distressing event. Support is available for you and your family: 

• Lifeline 24/7: Call 13 11 14, text 0477 13 11 14, or chat online 
• Beyond Blue: Call 1300 224 636 or chat online 

Business support packages

Our members have provided support packages and assistance to businesses affected by bushfires. 

• Victorian Bushfire Appeal – Bendigo Bank 
• Help for those impacted by bushfires - Aware Super
• Mobile Claims Centre - RACV
• GIVIT - RACV's National Disaster and Emergency Partner

 If your organisation has support packages or offers in place, feel free to send us your links via email. 

Where to get help

For all incident and relief and recovery information, including both Victorian and Australian Government assistance, please visit the Emergency Victoria website.

Government grants and financial support

Emergency relief payments  

Immediate financial help is available for eligible Victorians facing extreme hardship due to the January 2026 bushfires. 

Eligibility: 

You may be eligible if you have unmet immediate relief needs and:  

• your principal place of residence is damaged or destroyed by the January 2026 bushfires, and you can’t live in it, or  
• your principal place of residence was in an evacuation warning area, and you evacuated your property. 

How to Apply: 

• Call the VicEmergency Hotline 1800 226 226 (Press 0, then 1 to talk to someone)   
• Visit an Emergency Relief Centre – view locations.  
• Bring personal identification if possible (e.g., driver licence, Medicare card, or a bill with your name and address) 

Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment  

A one-off, non-means tested lump sum payment of $1,000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children is available. 

How to Apply: 

• Apply online through Services Australia from 2pm 14 January 2026. 

Disaster recovery support for small business

The Victorian Small Business Commission can assist in the resolution of disputes that may arise during the recovery process. It assists with resolving commercial disputes such as between a small business and other parties, between farmers and their creditors, and tenants and their landlords regarding retail leasing matters.

How to Apply: 

• Apply for assistance at vsbc.vic.gov.au. 

Look Over the Farm Gate Program 

Grants of up to $5,000 are available for community events and activities supporting mental health and recovery in farming communities.  

Eligibility:

The program is intended for primary producers and farming communities, with detailed eligibility criteria available once the application process opens. 

How to Apply:

Applications open 16 January 2026. Events must be held by 30 June 2026. Apply via the National Centre for Farmer Health. 

Emergency Recovery Support Program  

The Emergency Recovery Support Program helps people directly affected by the January 2026 fires get back on their feet by connecting them with the services they need most. Whether you’re looking for local support, navigating insurance or legal issues, managing money concerns or looking after your health and wellbeing, recovery officers and dedicated support workers are available to guide you every step of the way, making it easier to access the right help at the right time. 

Eligibility: 

Available for people directly impacted by the January 2026 fires.   

How to Access: 

Contact the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 (press 9 for an interpreter or call TIS on 131450). 

Waste disposal fees waived 

Residents of the 18 affected LGAs can access waste disposal facilities for free by showing proof of residence, such as a driver’s license. Fee waivers are available for 120 days until 13 May 2026 to support cleanup and recovery efforts. The full list of LGAs is on the State of Disaster webpage.

Prolonged Power Outage Payment  

The Victorian and Australian Governments are providing financial relief to households through the Prolonged Power Outage Payment due to the January 2026 bushfire and associated heatwave.  

Eligibility: 

Payments of $2,380 per eligible residential customer are available for each 7-day period without power up to a maximum of 3 payments. 

To receive the payment you must: 

• have a residential electricity account that is registered against a National Meter Identification number (NMI) for the relevant electricity distribution network (electricity account holder). 
• be an electricity account holder for a property that: 
  • lost power due to the severe weather events occurring in Victoria between 7 January and 10 January 2026; and 
  • was without power for 7 days. 
• have not applied for, or received a PPOP, for the same NMI in relation to the same period. 

Update: In a new announcement, businesses can receive $3,088 per week for up to 3 weeks if without power for seven or more days in a two‑week period. Apply via your electricity distributor.

How to Apply: 

For details on how to apply visit the Energy Victoria website and follow the links for your energy provider.  If you are eligible, you must make your application by no later than 11.59 pm (AEDT), 31 March 2026. 

Primary Producer Recovery Grants 

The Victorian Government has recently announced measures to support Victorian primary producers impacted by the January 2026 bushfires. These measures include grants of up to $75,000 to assist with the costs of clean-up and reinstatement of primary production enterprises that have suffered direct damage as a result of the 2026 Victorian Bushfires. 

How to Apply: 

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 ruralfinance.com.au 

Concessional Loans for Primary Producers  

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.  

How to Apply: 

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

Clean-up for homes and businesses

An additional $112 million will expand the state-coordinated Clean-up Program. Clean-up support will be available for uninsured and underinsured residential homes and businesses where structures have been have been damaged as a result of the fires. 

How to Apply: 

Registrations for the Clean-up Program are now open. Call the Emergency Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760 or visit the Emergency Recovery Victoria website.

Other assistance

Small Business Mentoring Service 

The Small Business Mentoring Service (SBMS) provides mentoring and business recovery advice to small businesses. 

Book a session: Call 1300 816 817 or visit the SBMS website. 

Business Recovery Advisory Service (Business Victoria)

Free, confidential one‑on‑one recovery advice (on the ground and online) tailored to the business’s circumstances; access via business.vic.gov.au.

Help with insurance  

Get free advice before accepting a settlement offer from your insurer: 

• Talk to a financial counsellor via the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 
• The Financial Rights Legal Centre offers factsheets and sample letters for insurance issues 
• Contact Disaster Legal Help Victoria for legal questions 

Emergency Fodder Support Program  

The Victorian Farmers Federation is providing emergency fodder to bushfire-affected farmers to help feed livestock and maintain animal welfare during recovery. Find out more.