More than $5 million raised through the Victorian Bushfire Appeal is being made available immediately to those most affected by the bushfires that have devastated East Gippsland and North-East Victoria, including families who have tragically lost a loved one.

With further funds rolling out in the coming days and weeks, this immediate support will go towards meeting the most urgent needs of local families and builds on the investments being made by the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments.

The support includes immediate payments of $50,000 to each of the families of the five people who have tragically died during Victoria’s recent bushfires.

$1 million – provided through BlazeAid – is being made available to help farmers replace boundary fences destroyed by the bushfires on their private property, helping to secure livestock and livelihoods.

Another $4 million is being released to support residents in bushfire affected areas who have experienced loss of, or damage to, their primary residence. These payments will range from $1,000 to $4,500 and will go to paying temporary accommodation costs, such as hotel bills.

Support will be made available through the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund and The Salvation Army.

With a focus on ensuring communities have what they need for the weeks and months to come, additional funds from the Appeal will be released as quickly as possible, following further consultation and assessments by the Appeal’s Advisory Panel.

The recent bushfires have devastated communities, with five deaths, thousands of people displaced, and more than 1.5 million hectares of land and hundreds of buildings destroyed. Through this devastation, the generosity of Victorians has shone through, with the Victorian Bushfire Appeal already raising $24 million.

The Chair of the Advisory Panel is former leader of the Victorian Nationals, the Hon Pat McNamara, with an Advisory Panel also appointed to recommend the expenditure of funds – every dollar of which is going to bushfire affected communities.

Donations to the Appeal can be made by visiting vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal or any Bendigo Bank branch.