Helping Victorians prepare for and recover from disasters
At Anglicare Victoria, we help communities across Victoria prepare for disasters and recover when they strike.
Helping you prepare for disasters
We help people plan ahead for disasters in both cities and regional areas, focusing on the unique risks to each community.
Our support includes:
- Delivering programs to help people prepare
- Working with local partners to strengthen community support
- Running community education sessions on disaster resilience
- Advocating for changes that reduce the impact of disasters and speed up recovery
Supporting recovery after disasters
When disasters like bushfires, floods, or storms happen, people are often at their most vulnerable. Anglicare Victoria is here to help children, young people, adults, and families rebuild their lives with the support they need.
Disasters leave lasting effects, long after the news coverage fades. Losing loved ones, homes, and possessions—and dealing with the trauma—can affect people for a long time. That’s why we’re here to help Victorians get back on their feet and find a ‘new normal.’
We walk alongside people through every step of their recovery, providing practical help and emotional care when it’s needed most. Our teams build trusted relationships, offer emotional and financial support, and help with essential needs like food, housing, and access to services. We adapt our support as needs change over time.
Our staff are specially trained to:
- Create safe, supportive spaces
- Build trust and give people choices
- Work together with individuals and communities
- Empower people to take control of their recovery
Our goal is to help people, communities, and the environment recover and become stronger after disasters.
Gippsland Community Legal Services
For our Gippsland residents, we have a dedicated community legal centre, Gippsland Community Legal Services (GCLS) which offers free legal advice and assistance to residents, workers, and students. Our services cover various legal issues, including disaster and preparedness, family violence, family law, fines, renting and tenancy law, and mental health. We also provide legal education programs and advocate for law reform to ensure fairness and justice for all.
GCLS provides advice and community legal education on disaster and preparedness, covering legal issues such as insurance, wills, powers of attorney (including document storage), neighbour disputes, and knowing your rights and options after a weather event. Where possible, we provide an outreach advice service following a major weather event, and we provide information guides on our website.
Our disaster recovery work
We’ve supported communities across Victoria through floods, storms, bushfires, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Here’s how we’ve helped:
Floods
We supported people affected by:
- The 2011 Central Victorian floods
- The 2022 and 2024 Rochester floods
- The 2022 Maribyrnong floods
- Temporary accommodation
- Emergency food and material aid
- Access to grants and financial counselling
- Case management to guide people through recovery
Storms
After the 2024 South Gippsland and 2021 Dandenong Ranges storms, we provided:
- Case management and financial counselling
- A 1800 support line for information and referrals
- Emergency supplies like food, clothing, furniture, and wellness packs
- Community activities like events, exercise classes, and art therapy for young people
Bushfire
Following the 2019/20 Black Summer and 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, we:
- Ran a volunteer outreach program to support people in Mallacoota, East Gippsland
- Provided emergency food, material aid, financial counselling, legal aid, and education support for children affected by the fires
COVID-19 Pandemic
During the pandemic, we supported people across Victoria through:
- Virtual and face-to-face community support programs
- Setting up a COVID-19 isolation facility for homeless young people and families
- Help with welfare needs, food, material aid, and financial support, including budgeting advice and bill waiver advocacy
- Responding to the hard lockdown of public housing in North Melbourne and Flemington, supporting 560 residents in four weeks with food, medical supplies, baby formula, and mental health support
Storm Recovery Support Eastern - Staff Testimony
Maria’s journey to recovery after the 2022 Rochester Floods
Navigating insurance challenges after a flood
After a significant flood, dealing with insurance claims can be as overwhelming as the damage itself. Many people face delays, disputes, and confusing processes that add to their stress during an already difficult time. Anglicare Victoria’s Disaster Recovery team is here to support individuals through these challenges, ensuring they receive the help they need to rebuild their lives.
Maria’s story
Maria* was one of the many residents affected by the devastating 2022 Rochester floods. Sadly, it wasn’t the first time her home had been flooded—she had also endured significant damage during the 2011 floods. When Maria lodged her insurance claim after the 2022 event, her insurer argued that the repairs from 2011 were of poor quality and attempted to partially deny her claim.
Facing the prospect of limited financial support and feeling overwhelmed by the insurance process, Maria turned to Anglicare Victoria’s Financial Counselling program for help. Our team stepped in to advocate on her behalf, working directly with the insurance company to challenge their decision.
Thanks to Anglicare Victoria’s intervention, the insurer re-evaluated Maria’s case and declared her property a total loss. This change significantly increased her cash settlement, allowing her to move forward with the repairs her home desperately needed.
In Maria’s own words:
"It's been a horror two years, but it's so nice to know there are good people on my side."
Guiding people through disaster recovery
Maria’s story highlights the real impact of having strong support during disaster recovery. Our Financial Counselling team helps people navigate complex insurance issues, advocate for fair outcomes, and find the resources they need to rebuild their homes and their lives.
If you or someone you know needs support after a disaster, Anglicare Victoria is here to help.
