Towns in central and northern Victoria are starting to move towards flood recovery as the clean-up begins to mend houses and businesses.
The enormous effort required means many of us will want to pitch in and help.
But where can you volunteer and what can you donate?
The ABC has compiled a list of ways you can contribute cash and goods to reputable organisations, as well as support organisations helping with the clean-up and rebuilding.
This list is not exhaustive, and we will add to it as new information comes in.
You can also find more easy-to-access information on charities and other agencies working on flood disasters across the country via our ABC Gives page.
If you can afford it, money is usually the best thing to donate. Much like its 2019-2020 bushfire support, Bendigo Bank's charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation is calling for donations for flood victims. Donations will be passed on to locally identified charitable areas.
- Volunteering
- Food relief
- Wellbeing & support
- Friends & family
- Clothing & household items
- Rural
- Animals
- Government assistance
- Long-term
Volunteering
Disaster Relief Australia is working with the Victorian State Control Centre to send volunteers to where they can go or are needed. Volunteers can register their interests and skills online or call (02) 8072 9130.
Food relief
Bendigo Foodshare and Shepparton Foodshare are running food relief in their areas and surroundings.
Even though there is government assistance, the need is enormous and donations from the public are still important.
The Victorian government is spending $5.5 million on food relief.
Foodbank Victoria, OzHarvest, Second Bite and FareShare will receive up to $750,000 to help with food purchasing, extra workers and delivery items.
Another $500,000 will go to neighbourhood houses and $1 million will go to regional food hubs and multicultural food providers.
Wellbeing and support
Philanthropic organisations across the northeast are also available for help and support.
Tomorrow Today Foundation is in Benalla, Border Trust – Albury Wodonga Region Community Foundation is in Albury and Wodonga, the Greater Shepparton Foundation in Shepparton and Into Our Hands — North East Victoria covers much of the Goulburn Murray region.
Lifeline, particularly through its Central Victoria and Mallee office, is available for mental health support in flood-affected areas. They can be reached on 13 11 14.
Friends and family
The Australian Red Cross has an online tool where people can reunite with friends and family if they are displaced.
Click on the Register option to let people know you are safe and use Find to look for people you know.
Clothing and household items
GIVIT allows people to request items or donations, such as clothing or money for fuel.
The crowd-sourced website carries a description with the request.
Others can then choose to donate money or the item requested.
People can also offer a donation to flood-affected Victorians.
More than 11,000 items are needed.
Charity St Vincent de Paul is running a flood appeal requesting food and essentials, emergency housing and clothing. One-off or ongoing donations can be made.
The Salvation Army is releasing $2 million from its Red Shield Appeal to help flood victims. The Salvos have been at nine evacuation centres across flood-affected areas in Australia. Donations can be made online or by calling 13 72 58.
Rural
The Victorian Farmers Federation is running a Disaster Relief Fund to assist farmers affected by the floods. Donations can be made over the phone or by mailing a cheque to the Victorian Farmers Federation. Donations can be made by calling 1300 882 833 or by mailing a cheque.
BlazeAid is in the process of recruiting and assembling crews of volunteers in central Victoria. The organisation will set up camps in central and northern Victoria from the week beginning October 24, 2022.
Animals
Wildlife Victoria is also running a flood appeal where people can donate to help keep wildlife carers on-call around the clock and help pay for veterinarians where needed. Donations can be made online, over the phone by calling 1300 882 833 or by mailing a cheque.
Government assistance
Joint federal and state government assistance is available through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements for 46 local government areas.
The federal government's one-off Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 per adult and $400 per child is now available to people who live in the council areas of Benalla, Boroondara, Central Goldfields, Greater Bendigo, Loddon, Moonee Valley, Mount Alexander, Murrindindi and Yarra and more.
Victorians can contact the Flood Recovery Hotline on 1800 560 760. A state-based Emergency Relief Assistance Payment is available to help households meet immediate and essential needs, like emergency shelter, food, clothing or personal items.
Property owners can register for the government's clean-up program or call 1800 560 760.
Emergency re-establishment payments of up to $43,850 for households are also available for flood-affected families. It applies to those without flood insurance, facing financial hardship, clean-up, emergency accommodation, repairs, rebuilding and replacing essential household items.
These grants are for residents whose homes are uninhabitable for more than a week.
Information on disaster assistance is available on the Australian Government's Disaster Assist website.
Australian Government's Disaster Recovery Allowance Support is available for those who have lost income due to the Victorian floods. It's available for a maximum of 13 weeks.
Long-term
The Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal is also running its Flood Recovery Appeal and donating to the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund, the Central Victorian Fund or the Strengthening Rural Communities: Prepare & Recover program.
Donations to the Disaster Resilience and Recovery Fund are pooled and invested to support recovery efforts when it's needed. The Central Victorian Fund is specifically for that region.
The foundation's Strengthening Rural Communities: Prepare & Recover program funds one-off, flexible grants to support community organisations in these flood-impacted regions.
NOTE: Unfortunately, scammers will emerge during a time of crisis so please be cautious and make sure you are donating to a legitimate organisation. This will make sure your money or goods get through to the people who need them.
