Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund was 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.
Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Provides Financial Support to Those in Need
A new $14 million Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund package will provide support to people who lost immediate family in the February fires and suffering financial hardship with a new scholarship scheme to encourage students affected to pursue their studies.
The $10.9 million Compassionate Financial Support scheme will assist those who lost immediate family in the fires and a new $3 million program to provide higher education scholarships to young people affected by the fires.
Under the Compassionate Financial Support package immediate family members of the 173 people who tragically died in the 2009 bushfires and are in financial hardship as a result, may be eligible to receive an immediate grant of $25,000. Some individuals who are suffering extreme financial hardship may then be eligible for a further needs-based payment of up to $50,000.
More information about the Compassionate Financial Support package.
Under the new $3 million Scholarship Program, scholarships of $15,000 per year will be provided for 66 students from towns and communities directly impacted by the fires who are financially constrained to undertake tertiary or vocational education from 2010 and beyond.
For more information, view the media release about this financial support on the Premier of Victoria website.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund Independent Advisory Panel, chaired by Pat McNamara, is made up of community leaders who oversee the Fund's operation and the allocation of funds, based on a number of Criteria for payments.
The Panel has visited communities across Victoria, touched by the fires, and spoken to survivors about their needs. The Panel is working to strike the right balance between ensuring that funding is dispersed with the intent of donors and the needs of those individuals who have endured the worst natural disaster in Australia's history. Money is being provided to those people who need it the most.
Payments
In the immediate aftermath of the bushfires, the Panel made a commitment to meet the priority needs of bushfire affected communities. Funding was allocated to individuals and families to assist with these immediate needs. As time passed, different needs emerged and the Advisory Panel has developed gifts to reflect these needs.
Thousands of survivors of the bushfires from across Victoria are receiving payments under these initiatives.
How do I find out about assistance I can get?
Grants are available through the Department of Human Services and other agencies. For more information about these grants, contact the Bushfire Hotline on 1800 240 667 or go to the Department of Human Services website.
How can I donate to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund?
The Victorian Bushire Appeal 2009 officially closed on Friday 17 April. Anyone with any queries about fundraising activities or collections should contact the Australian Red Cross on 1800 811 700.