Hardship payments available for Victorians affected by bushfires

Personal hardship assistance payments are available for Victorians impacted by bushfires. To apply contact VicEmergency on 1800 226 226.

Transcript

00:00Today, and Vicky Ward will go to some more detail about this, the Premier has announced

00:04that we have activated personal hardship assistance payments for those impacted by

00:09the bushfire area in the Grampians region. This will support $340 per child and $680 per adult

00:18to support Victorians who in their time of need need that financial support.

00:23The Emergency Services Minister will give some detail on this in a minute.

00:27If you are one of these people, one of these families, one of these adults that has been

00:31impacted in the Grampians region, please call the Vic Emergency hotline on 1800 222 6226

00:39or visit the Emergency Relief Centre to access support.

00:43A final reminder to every single Victorian, today we are activating our hardship payment grants.

00:49We will stand with you. We are in the month of December. We've got January, February and

00:54March to come. We'll continue to stand with you in what is a very difficult time for Victoria

00:59as we have the bushfire season. I'll now hand over to Vicky Ward,

01:02the Emergency Services Minister, to say a few words.

01:09Thanks Ben. Firstly, I also do want to thank everybody who has worked so incredibly hard

01:15to keep communities safe. We are in a position now where it has been downgraded to Watch and Act

01:21and so much of that downgrade is thanks to this incredible, extraordinary work

01:26that people have done in protecting communities and they are absolutely to be congratulated.

01:32Now, we did announce yesterday that there would be support for local government areas affected

01:36by the bushfires. This includes Ararat Council, Northern Grampians Council, Southern Grampians

01:42Council, as well as Macedon Ranges. Today, we have also activated the personal hardship grants.

01:48This means that people can apply through calling the Victorian Vic Emergency hotline on 1800 226

01:57226 to apply or they can also go to their nearest emergency relief centre and this includes the

02:03relief centres at Ararat, Atstall and at Hamilton. Now, these are to help families,

02:08help individuals manage their immediate risk, manage their immediate challenges

02:13as they regather together and hopefully very soon go back to their homes. But we know that

02:19there are challenges that people face when they are out of their home and these payments

02:24are to help support them.