Fire-impacted community at Woodfield now eligible for disaster support
Published on 01 May 2026
Services Australia has announced that the fire-impacted Woodfield community is now eligible for Disaster Support following the Longwood Berrys Lane fire.
The development comes months after residents of Woodfield began expressing their frustration at having been left of the list of eligible communities despite being impacted by the fire.
Since those concerns were first raised, the matter has been an advocacy priority for Mansfield Shire Council and while this good news is overdue, it is a big win for the community.
The data within secondary-impact assessments undertaken by Council proved the extent of the fire impact on the community and influenced the decision makers at the National Emergency Management Agency of Australia.
Mayor Cr Steve Rabie has called the news a great outcome but he feels there are lessons to be learned from the drawn-out process.
“What the residents of Woodfield needed after the fire was timely support, instead, they were met by bureaucracy and obstacles,” he said.
“Their inclusion on the list of eligible communities is a great outcome but it has come far too late. This can’t happen again.”
“The fires brought so much disruption to life and so much trauma. Disaster relief funding should ease that trauma, not add to it. All levels of government need to remember that there is a person behind every statistic and it’s our duty to make sure we represent them on a human level.”
According to Services Australia, Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP) is a one-time lump sum payment ($1000 per adult and $400 per child) to help people affected by the Victoria Bushfires, January 2026.
People may be eligible if they experienced any of the following:
- major damage to their principal place of residence
- major damage to a major asset or assets that they own at their principal place of residence
- serious injury
- an immediate family member who is an Australian citizen or resident has died or is missing.
Equivalent financial assistance is also available to eligible New Zealand citizens.
People may also be eligible for Disaster Recovery Allowance for up to 13 weeks if they have lost income as a direct result of the Victorian Bushfires, January 2026.
Fire impacted residents of Woodfield, and broader Mansfield Shire, are encouraged to head to the Services Australia website and search QC 83555 for further information on how to apply for the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment.
The deadline for residents of Woodfield to make a claim is 19 October, all other currently eligible fire-impacted communities in Mansfield Shire have until 5 August to make a claim