Bushfire Crisis Information

What support is available for people with disabilities and seniors in a bushfire crisis? For people who have been affected by the fires, emergency aid, from emergency accommodation, evacuation centres, and support services to financial assistance, is available. 

Stay Informed

In an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) or Teletype 106. Please refer to your local fire authority for the most up-to-date and reliable information, listen to your local ABC radio, or stream radio with the ABC Listen App, ABC News on live TV or ABC iview. 

New South Wales (NSW)

New South Wales Rural Fire Service (NSW RFS)

You can contact the RFS Bushfire Information Line on 1800 NSW RFS (1800 679 737) or go to www.rfs.nsw.gov.au.

You can also use the Fires Near Me app on your smartphone or tablet device or check the NSW RFS Facebook page or  X (Twitter) account @NSWRFS.

Australian Capital Territory (ACT) - Canberra

ACT Emergency Service Agency (ESA)

Victoria (VIC)

Refer to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) and VicEmergency for information about fires in your area, or call the VicEmergency Hotline.

South Australia (SA)

Refer to the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS).

Queensland (QLD)

Queensland Rural Fire Service (QRFS)

Call your local Rural Fire Service Area Office directly. Numbers are available at www.ruralfire.qld.gov.au

Queensland Fire and Emergency Service (QFES)

Tasmania (TAS)

Contact the Tasmania Fire Service. 

Northern Territory (NT)

Bushfires NT

Western Australia (WA)

Emergency WA

Web: www.emergency.wa.gov.au

Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) WA

Disaster Response Hotline - Welfare Support

In 2020, the bushfire crisis impacted communities throughout Australia, with more than 6 million hectares burned. We have collated some useful and critical information on how to stay up to date in a bushfire crisis, especially those whose homes and communities have been directly impacted or are in the line of fire. 

Bushfire Survival Plan 

Easy English resources for people with disability, including intellectual disability, can be downloaded from the CFA, Red Cross, and I'm Okay site. 

How Fireproof is Your Plan? Read our Blog on Fire Safety if you don’t have one!

Financial Assistance

There is assistance available if you can show you lost income or have been adversely affected as a direct result of the bushfires. 

Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance

The Disaster Recovery Payment (DRP) is a one-off, non-means-tested payment of $1000 for eligible adults and $400 for eligible children adversely affected by a major disaster in Australia or overseas.

DRP is activated when the impact of a disaster on individuals and families requires Australian Government assistance in addition to that provided under standard recovery assistance.

Disaster Recovery Allowance is a short-term payment to help you if a declared disaster directly affects your income.

You can get it for a maximum of 13 weeks. It’s payable from the date you lose income as a direct result of the NSW Bushfires in August, September, October, November, December 2019 and January 2020.

Disaster Welfare Assistance Line

For information about disaster relief grants for contents and structural repairs, available to low-income earners with no insurance.

Read more on Disaster Relief Grants

Be prepared! Have a "go bag" ready. Read our Packing for an Emergency blog.

Emergency Accommodation

Accessible Group

Accessible Accommodation has repurposed their already extensive network of accessible accommodation providers to enable people with access needs to find a free temporary emergency accommodation solution. You can access this resource by connecting to the Facebook group.

Bushfire Housing Assistance Service

The NSW Government has established the Bushfire Housing Assistance Service to support people who are temporarily or permanently displaced as a result of the NSW bushfires.

The Disaster Welfare Assistance Line is open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free call 1800 018 444.

A current list of open evacuation centres can be found on the Department of Justice Office of Emergency Management’s website.

You can also follow on Facebook for more information  NSW Disaster Recovery Facebook page

NSW Bushfire clean-up

The NSW Government is coordinating the clean-up of NSW residences and eligible businesses impacted by the NSW bushfires. This includes both insured and uninsured properties. This program focuses on safety hazards and issues that could impede people from rebuilding their homes.

To register or find out more, go to https://dcj.nsw.gov.au/news-and-media/news/2020/bushfire-recovery-support-now-in-one-place.html

Even if you are not directly impacted by fire, the smoke and heat can have adverse health effects wherever you are. Read more on how to stay well on our Beat the Heat blog.

Communication resources

We’ve pulled together a range of communication resources that may help people understand what has been happening with the bushfires.

Open Source

Created by Professor Bronwyn Hemsley, Annuska Zolyomi and Harmony Turnbull.

This is an open-source, free-to-use folder where people can use templates to create their own social stories. The folder includes examples, photos and a database of topics for modular arrangement. It’s been set up in response to the January 2020 bushfires.

Which stories would you like to request, for people with #Autism or communication difficulties? problems understanding info? Pics are some new examples, here is the spreadsheet link to add the request https://t.co/5WMIZ3fUov @AnnuskaP thanks so much!! #AustraliaBurns #firecrisis https://t.co/m53D7nQCZ9 pic.twitter.com/fqBjQsb6iN

— Prof Bronwyn Hemsley (@BronwynHemsley) January 8, 2020

Social Story for Children

Early Connections Alliance has developed a Bush Fire Social Story to share with your children. Social Stories are a social learning tool that supports the safe and meaningful exchange of information between parents, professionals, and people with autism of all ages. You can adapt the social story to your family by downloading the Word document.

Easy Read Bushfire Info

The NSW Council for Intellectual Disability (CID) have developed an Easy Read Bush Fire Info Guide to help people with an intellectual disability or learning difficulties to understand what is going on and what to do before, during and after a bushfire emergency. 

Social Stories and Tips

Suggestions and social stories to help children adjust to the changes and the stresses related to the fires.

Managing Distress

Red Cross have developed accessible guides for managing distress. This guide has information for communities, parents and caregivers after a distressing event. Audio, Easy English and Large Print versions of advice on managing distress. Also available in 7 culturally diverse languages.

Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction

There is a broader range of materials available in the Resource Library created by the Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction project. It has information for planning, communication, individuals, community organisations and emergency services.

Managing Chronic Conditions

Arthritis and other Chronic Conditions

Creaky Joints has developed a resource to help people with chronic conditions, including arthritis, MS and other chronic conditions, manage their symptoms during a natural disaster. 

Asthma and other Breathing Difficulties

The National Asthma Council have developed a fact sheet on Bushfires and Asthma, which outlines ways to minimise and treat asthma symptoms that can arise in smokey conditions brought about by bushfires.

Go to  www.nationalasthma.org.au/living-with-asthma/resources/patients-carers/factsheets/bushfires-and-asthma

Mental Health 

The Australian Government Department of Health has implemented the Supporting the Mental Health of Australians Affected by Bushfires measure. It aims to ensure people have access to coordinated and tailored support to recover from the effects of the 2019-2020 bushfires. The measure includes the Bushfire Recovery Access Program, providing on the ground counselling and mental health support for individuals, families and emergency responders affected by bushfires and trauma-informed care training for firefighters and other emergency responders who attended the bushfires. 

People affected by the bushfires will be eligible to receive ten psychological therapy sessions in addition to the sessions already available by accessing a Mental Health Plan through your local GP. 

Headspace

Dealing with stress from bushfires can be really tough; it’s important to take time to check in and do things to look after yourself. Headspace has developed resources on how to cope with the stress of natural disasters for young people, as well as a group chat space for people coping with bushfires.

Rural Resilience Program

The NSW Department of Primary Industries Rural Resilience team works with primary producers across regional and remote NSW to build personal and family resilience. They listen, learn and link farmers and families living in rural and regional communities to empower and equip people with the coping skills they need in times of drought and disaster. 

Helping Children Impacted by Bushfires

Rosalind Verness, Counsellor and Psychotherapist, has developed a guide for helping children impacted by fires. This guide provides practical and simple advice for parents and carers who are helping their children deal with distress, sadness or fear following the bushfire crisis. 

More information

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