Recovery and resilience support and information
Bushfire recovery support
The Bushfire Recovery team provides support and case management services to help people affected by severe bushfires. Gateway Health’s Bushfire Recovery Team works with individuals, families and communities to help with the following:
- Applications for financial grants
- Referral to other organisations for financial assistance
- Access to mental health support
- Access to financial counsellors
- Access to family violence support programs
- Access to gambling support services
- Help in reaching doctors, dentists, and others
- Helping in getting aid to support livestock
- Help in sourcing items for rebuilding
- Coordination of donations of new items like generators, white goods, etc.
- Speaking up for bushfire affected communities with local and state government authorities
The Gateway Health bushfire recovery program is a free service funded by Bushfire Recovery Victoria and Murray PHN. To access the service call:
- Bushfire Recovery Hotline on t: 1800 560 760
- Gateway Health on t: 1800 657 573 or click here to visit their webpage.
Recovery hubs
- Alpine Recovery Hub e: alpinehub@brv.vic.gov.au
- Towong Recovery Hub e: recovery@towong.vic.gov.au
- Upper Murray – Cross Border t: 1800 518 222 or e: recovery@towong.vic.gov.au
Community participation and wellbeing
Murray PHN has funded local councils in Alpine, Towong, Mansfield, Indigo, Wodonga and Wangaratta to identify community-based activities to support mental health and community wellbeing.
These activities have been chosen based on the needs of the local region:
| Local Council | Activities | Contact person |
|---|---|---|
Alpine Shire | Various community events to help communities reconnect. | Jodi Timbs: jodit@alpineshire.vic.gov.au |
| Towong Shire | Local schools (including teachers and parents) will participate in mental health programs delivered by The Resilience Project. | Tanya Aramini: tanya.aramini@towong.vic.gov.au |
| Mansfield Shire | Local schools (including teachers and parents) will participate in mental health programs delivered by The Resilience Project. | Angela Cesarec: angela.cesarec@mansfield.vic.gov.au |
| Indigo Shire | Working with local high schools; sporting clubs; carers; and young people directly to deliver early intervention programs to improve mental health and wellbeing of young people. | Terry Scanlan: terry.scanlan@indigoshire.vic.gov.au |
| Wangaratta Rural City | Development of a community profile and creative recovery events including art classes and local art exhibition. | Denise Pirko: d.pirko@wangaratta.vic.gov.au |
| Wodonga Council | Local schools (including teachers and parents) will participate in mental health programs delivered by The Resilience Project. | Caitlyn MacDonald: cmacdonald@wodonga.vic.gov.au |
Government support
- Services Australia 1800 22 66
- Service Connect
- Bushfire Recovery Victoria
- National Recovery and Resilience Agency
- Recovery Connect
- Victorian Government: Bushfire Case Support Program – access to practical support and advice or t: 1800 560 760
- Victorian Bushfire Clean-up Program or t: 1800 560 760
Recovery and resilience resources
- Red Cross disaster recovery recorded webinars
- The Resilience Project
- Building Resilience, Kids Helpline
Page last updated 1 July 2022