Bushfire recovery centre and mobile service

Bushfire recovery centre and mobile service Saturday 11 January

East Gippsland Shire Council has opened a Bushfire Recovery Centre in Service Street, Bairnsdale and is also providing a Mobile Recovery Centre to smaller bushfire affected communities such as the Omeo Region, Buchan district and Far East.

This Mobile Recovery Centre will provide the most critical information and services needed in these communities such as Department of Health and Human Services, Red Cross (mental health counselling service), Centrelink and Council services.

The Mobile Recovery Centre will be visiting towns such as Omeo, Buchan,

Buchan – Monday, January 13 at the recreation reserve, Buchan-Orbost Road. Tambo Crossing – Tuesday, January 14 at “The Rock”, Great Alpine Road. Ensay – Wednesday, January 15 at the memorial hall. Bruthen – Thursday, January 16 – location TBC. Cobungra – Friday, January 17 – location TBC.

More locations will be added to the schedule for the following week.

The Recovery Centre in Bairnsdale can provide information and assistance for those affected by bushfire from a range of different agencies including Agriculture Victoria, the Insurance Council, the Victorian Council of Churches, Disaster Legal Help and Rural Financial Counselling Service as well as any enquiry that Council can assist you with. The centre is open seven days a week from 9am to 5pm.

This centre can also provide important information for those affected by fire on how to seek relief funding through the state and federal governments as well as how to access funds through the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund.

East Gippsland Shire Council Chief Executive Officer Anthony Basford said that help is available to be able for people to start to recover from the events of recent weeks.

“The process of recovering from a bushfire can be very daunting, but we want our community to know that they’re not alone and help is available to guide them through the processes and to help them get back on their feet as soon as possible,” Mr Basford said

“Help is also available for those who may have had to flee their home without being able to take any important documents with them. Birth certificates, marriage certificates as well as mortgage and bank documents are just some of the important documents that may have been lost, but for those in that situation help is available from Disaster Legal Help at the Bairnsdale Information and Recovery Centre.” 

Also available to assist are:

The Victorian Council of Churches: a multi-faith agency available to provide support including psychological first aid, emotional and spiritual care and personal support. Agriculture Victoria: information for livestock owners affect by bushfires. Rural Financial Counselling Service: free, confidential service. They can give you individual support to meet your needs and help you to make the right decisions for your business. Insurance Council: disaster recovery and claims specialists.

Service Street, Bairnsdale is also currently the location of the Australian Government’s Mobile Service Centre which is located outside the Bairnsdale Library. This Mobile Service Centre can help with Medicare, Centrelink and claim disaster assistance paymentsaccessing Federal Government disaster assistance payments.