Victorian Bushfire Case Management Service
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.
To read more about this service go to the website - www.dhs.vic.gov.au/
VBCMS Complaints and Feedback Line - 1800 184 147
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Department Human Services
website - www.dhs.vic.gov.au
List of Community Hubs and their contact details - www.dhs.vic.gov.au
Emergency Phone Nos
Victorian Bushfire Information Line – 1800 240 667
Red Cross State Emergency Centre (missing persons enquiries) - 1800 727 077
International callers seeking information about family and friends should call 0011 613 5332 5015 or 0011 61 3 8327 7814
Websites
Country Fire Authority website - http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/index.htm
Department of Sustainability & Environment website - www.dse.vic.gov.au
Department of Education and Early Childhood Development - have developed a series of resources to provide practical support - www.education.vic.gov.au
VicRoads - bushfire information - www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
Parks Victoria website - www.parkweb.vic.gov.au
For information specific to your area -
Mitchell Shire Council Emergency Contact Information – 5734 6232
Mitchell Shire website
Murrindindi Shire website
Yarra Ranges website
Nillumbik Shire website
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Financial Support
A list of bushfire grants can be viewed in table form from the link above OR you can search through the sites mentioned below.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund has specific information on Payments available through donations made to the Australian Red Cross.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Program is providing one-off payments through Centrelink - 180 22 11 or website - http://www.centrelink.gov.au/
Grants are available to people affected by the fires. These can be accessed through the Department of Human Services website or Centrelink
Grants are now available for Volunteer activities in response to the Victorian Bushfire Crisis. Small grants of up to $5,000 are available through the Volunteer Small Grants Program - Bushfire Relief 2009 and up to $20,000 for Emergency Volunteer Support Grants - Bushfire Relief 2009
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Helping Victorians
Victorian Bushfire Accommodation Donation Line - 1800 006 468
Free call between
8am and 8pm Monday-Friday
Bushfire Volunteer Hotline 1300 366 356 or go to Go Volunteer at www.govolunteer.com.au
Donations
- Call the Red Cross on 1800 811 700 or donate online at www.redcross.org.au
- Donate in person at any branch of the ANZ, Commonwealth, NAB, Westpac or Bendigo Bank
- By direct deposit to the Victorian Bushfire Relief Fund - BSB 082-001, Account number 860-046-797
- Donate at any Bunnings store or Australia Post outlet
- Myer Bushfire Appeal – all proceeds to the Salvation Army. Donate at any Victorian Myer store
Blood Donations
People interested in making a blood donation should visit the Red Cross website in the first instance www.donateblood.com.au or call their call centre on 13 14 95
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Counselling/Support
Personal support and counselling services include:
Nurse-On-Call Bushfire Health and Counselling Line - 1300 606 024
Lifeline - 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au
Parentline - 13 22 89 or www.parentline.vic.gov.au
MensLine - 1300 789 978 or www.menslineaus.org.au
Kids Helpline - 1800 551 800 or www.kidshelp.com.au
Griefline - 03 9596 7799 or griefline.org
Suicide Line - 1300 651 251 or www.suicideline.org.au
Rural Support Line - 1300 655 969
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 or www.beyondblue.org.au
Department of Human Services www.dhs.vic.gov.au/emergency
Advice on loss of life, funerals and loss of legal wills
State Trustees - 9667 6073
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Insurance
information taken from the DHS website
If your home has been damaged or destroyed by bushfire, make contact with your insurance company as soon as possible after the incident to register your intention to claim and seek advice about the claim process under your policy. All insurance policies vary.
You should also contact your insurer to arrange for an assessment. Don’t be worried if your insurance papers have been destroyed during the bushfire, as insurance companies keep records electronically and only require the policyholder’s name and address.
If you are unable to identify your insurer you can contact the Insurance Ombudsman Service (IOS) on the toll free number 1300 780 808 during office hours. IOS will be able to provide advice and assistance with identifying your insurance company.
DHS have a fact sheet titled - Dealing with Financial Matters
If you are having difficulty with an insurance matter the following may be able to assist -
- Insurance Ombudsman Service - 1300 780808
- Insurance Council - 1300 728228
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Contact Ben
Please do not hesitate to call my office staff if you are unable to find the information you are after. We will do our best to help you.
phone - 03 5799 2760; fax 03 5799 0488
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Premier
If you wish to make a suggestion about what the State Government should be doing in the recovery phase of the bushfires, please contact the Premier directly by mail to -
John Brumby MP
Premier of Victoria
Level 1, 1 Treasury Place
Melbourne Vic 3002
or email -
john.brumby@parliament.vic.gov.au
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Victorian Bushfire Recovery and Reconstruction Authority
Level 6, 55 Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000
ph (03) 9092 5875
fax (03) 9092 5877
Christine Nixon took over as Chair of the Authority on 2 March 2009
website - www.wewillrebuild.vic.gov.au
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Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
- established on February 8 by the Victorian Government in partnership with the Federal Government and Australian Red Cross to support individuals and communities in towns and suburbs affected by the 2009 Victorian bushfires.
website - Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
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Royal Commission - have your say
Email: enquiries@royalcommission.vic.gov.au
Telephone: 1800 243650
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Property Cleanup
The Commonwealth and Victorian Government funded clean-up and demolition operation is open to any person who owns property affected by recent bushfires.
The key steps of the process are:
- The Coroner with Victoria Police approve access to the site;
- Site assessment for risk, and removal of risks such as burnt gas bottles, dangerous trees, unstable chimneys;
- Site owners given an opportunity for a final recovery of any possessions at the site; and
- The site will be cleared by licensed contractors.
People who would like the government to clear their property for free can contact:
Call: 1800 136 732
website: www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-cleanup
People who have already had their property cleared by a licensed contractor and would like to apply for reimbursement can contact:
Call: 1800 136 732
website: www.vic.gov.au/bushfire-cleanup
Important information for licensed contractors
Licensed contractors who are interested in taking part in the government funded clean-up and demolition program can contact: firecleanup@grocon.com.au
For those wishing to work for Grocon, please contact employment@grocon.com.au
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