Ovens & King CHS can provide counselling services - please phone our Intake Worker on (03) 5723 2000 for an appointment.

For Case Management - please phone 1800 050 400 to register - see information below.

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The Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service is providing all Victorians affected by the bushfires with the support they need to access assistance with matters including accommodation, finance, personal assistance, employment, education, counselling, health and legal services during this difficult time.

The case manager will work with individuals and families to determine their needs, prioritise the work that will be conducted, follow up on the agreed actions and report back to families.

They will help Victorians to locate and access the services they need to get back on track, and will act as the primary contact for the family or individual accessing services. Every family will have a case manager whose job it is to help them as they sort through what are very difficult issues.

The case manager will help Victorians to decide how and where they wish to rebuild their lives with the aid of counsellors and other support staff.

The bushfire case management service is available now - call the Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service Line on 1800 050 400 to register and your own personal case manager will call you back within 24 hours.

Banking, Finance, Insurance, Legal, Superannuation & Tax

Banking

ANZ - 13 13 14 - ANZ is providing cash assistance for mortgage, and business and agricultural lending customers whose homes or property have been destroyed by the devastating bushfires in Victoria. A $10,000 cash grant will be available for mortgage, and business and agricultural lending customers who have suffered full loss of property, amenities, stock or machinery. Customers who have suffered partial loss or serious damage of property, amenities, stock or essential farm items will receive a $5,000 grant.

Air quality (EPA Victoria)

Medicare

Residents who have lost property or belongings in the Victoria bushfires can obtain their Medicare number from any Medicare office or by calling Medicare Australia on 13 20 11. Medicare Australia will also provide Medicare numbers, on request, direct to hospital staff, health professionals, pharmacists and other support services. This will allow people to continue to have access to Medicare rebated health services. Temporary replacement cards will be available for anyone who no longer has their Medicare card. These cards can be issued by Centrelink, Medicare Australia, or other agencies like Red Cross.

Dedicated staff at recovery centres will organise temporary accommodation for you. Staff at these centres will also help you to find accommodation over the longer term when you are ready. They can also help with financial assistance and outreach services.

People wishing to donate accommodation should contact the Victorian Bushfire Public Accommodation Donation Line by calling 1800 006 468. 8am - 8pm.

Donations

Australian Red Cross - Donate blood.

Australian Red Cross - Donate online or call 1800 811 700.

Bogus bushfire appeals (Consumer Affairs Victoria) - People wanting to donate should check that the organisation conducting the appeal is registered.

Food - VicRelief Foodbank - 9362 8300 - Business donations of food.

Albury-Wodonga Equestrian Centre - (02) 6043 2776 or 0407 263 881 - Has room for horses.

Animal Aid - 9739 0300 - Provides shelter for domestic pets, veterinary care for injured pets, food and bedding for pets, and a list of people offering agistment for larger livestock.

DPI Customer Service Centre - 13 61 86 - Urgent help for farmers to assess sheep and cattle

Help for Wildlife - 0417 380 687 - How to assist wildlife.

Lort Smith Animal Hospital - 9328 3021 (North Melbourne), 9407 2030 (Plenty Valley)

Cars

Car maker GM Holden will provide 300 vehicles to people in need for a period of between three and 12 months.

CityLink - 1800 854 770 - CityLink customers who have been directly affected by the bushfires.

Power

Residents in fire-affected areas could be without power for up to a week because of damage to electricity infrastructure.

Electricity Distribution Companies:

Citipower - 13 24 12 - Power outage update.

Jemena - (Jemena Electricity Networks - 13 26 26 / United Energy - 13 20 99) - Power outage update.

Powercor - 13 24 12 - Power outage update.

SP Ausnet - 13 17 99 - Power outage update.

The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is available to people who have been adversely affected by the Victorian Bushfires.

The AGDRP provides $1,000 per eligible adult and $400 per child.  Claims for this assistance can be lodged with Centrelink until 7 August 2009.

For more information on eligibility or if you have any queries, please visit the Centrelink website or contact the Australian Government Victorian Bushfires Hotline on 180 2211. If you have a hearing or speech impairment - TTY service FreeCALL^TM 1800 810 586.

The Commonwealth Government is providing employees, small business people and farmers who have lost their incomes as a direct result of the bushfires an Income Recovery Subsidy.  This Subsidy provides payments equivalent to the maximum rate of Newstart allowance given the person's circumstances.  This assistance will be offered for an initial period of 13 weeks.

The Income Recovery Subsidy is available to Australian residents over 16 years of age, who have experienced a loss of income as a direct result of the Victorian Bushfires.  The subsidy is payable from 29 January 2009 and will compliment the range of services, payments and assistance already available.

For more information on eligibility or if you have any queries, please visit the Centrelink website or contact the Australian Government Victorian Bushfires Hotline on 180 2211 or TTY service FreeCALL^TM 1800 810 586.

The case manager will work with individuals and families to determine their needs, prioritise the work that will be conducted, follow up on the agreed actions and report back to families.

They will help Victorians to locate and access the services they need to get back on track, and will act as the primary contact for the family or individual accessing services. Every family will have a case manager whose job it is to help them as they sort through what are very difficult issues.

The case manager will help Victorians to decide how and where they wish to rebuild their lives with the aid of counsellors and other support staff.

The bushfire case management service is available now - call the Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service Line on 1800 050 400 to register and your own personal case manager will call you back within 24 hours.

Emergency Relief

The Commonwealth Government recently announced an additional $80.6 million over three years in emergency relief funding.  The Commonwealth Government will provide an additional $5 million of funding to meet the need for immediate assistance from families affected by the bushfires.