Survivors of the 2009 Victorian Bushfires will be eligible for additional assistance from the Victorian Bushfire Appeal Fund to help them finalise the rebuilding of their homes.

Announcing a new gift today, the chair of the Fund’s independent Advisory Panel, Pat McNamara, said VBAF had already paid about $200 million to people requiring housing support since the February 2009 Bushfires.

"Many people who lost their homes during the 2009 bushfires have successfully rebuilt their homes, bought new properties, or otherwise found alternative, permanent accommodation," Mr McNamara said.

"But we know there are some people who still require a bit of additional assistance - in many cases a relatively small amount of money – to help them obtain their certificate of occupancy and move in.

"This new gift will provide eligible households with up to $20,000 to finalise their housing needs.

"Households might need that money to purchase materials, connect essential services, or pay their remaining building bills.

"The Fund will work with local government, the Department of Human Services’ Bushfire Housing Service and the Rebuilding Advisory Service (RAS) to target those people still needing support, and we would be asking those people still requiring housing support to call the VBAF hotline on 1800 180 213 and register their details.

"The VBAF team will conduct a financial assessment and eligibility test, and then approved applicants will be put in touch their local RAS representatives, who will carry out a building assessment on the property to ascertain what works still need to be completed."

Mr McNamara said VBAF was also preparing an assistance package for people with more complex housing circumstances, who require a range of additional support services to finalise their living arrangements.

"There is a relatively small group of people who need that extra help and we will be targeting assistance to those households shortly," he said.

"With these two allocations we are hoping to provide assistance to those people who have yet to finalise their living arrangements.

"While we know that everybody whose home was destroyed should have already received at least $100,000 from the Fund, and many people will have received more than $150,000, we are aware that some households still require extra support."

Mr McNamara said VBAF was committed to helping people finalise their living arrangements.

"The Fund has so far made more than 6000 payments to individuals and families whose homes were either destroyed or damaged in the 2009 Victorian bushfires," he said.

"Of the $396 million raised during the Appeal, about $200 million went towards rehousing and recovery payments for those with destroyed and damaged properties and helping people suffering initial home dislocation after the fires."

Mr McNamara urged people living in communities affected by the fires to alert their friends and neighbours to the new gift.

"We will be making contact with those people who we believe still require assistance," he said.

"But if you know of friends or neighbours who are in this position, let them know what’s available and ask them to contact the VBAF hotline to register their details."

Media contact: Jason Frenkel 0402 282 251

VBAF Hotline: 1800 180 213