The ABC has a large amount of information and resources nationwide, and local radio stations will be updated with the latest information. ABC Emergency has a number of resources, including emergency planning for bushfires.  

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has advice for providers and participants relating to the NDIS and disaster response (including easy read documents) on its website.  You can also keep up-to-date with the latest NDIA news and information here.

As at 9 January 2020, advice to providers from NDIA is:

If you are a provider and have been contacted to deliver services to a participant immediately before, during or after the emergency.

• The priority is to ensure that disability supports meet the immediate needs of NDIS participants.
• The NDIA understands that disaster events can affect service delivery requirements and generate unplanned costs.
• The NDIA can make changes to participants’ budgets through the unscheduled plan review process, so that expenses incurred in the delivery of disability supports can be claimed on the basis of changed circumstances.
• Please deliver the services required and following the disaster contact the Contact Centre on 1800 800 110 or  and include Natural Disaster in the subject line. The NDIA will arrange for an urgent plan review post the disaster event.
• Providers delivering Support Coordination or other essential supports should continue to provide services and claim, but should assist the participant in arranging a plan review by contacting the Contact Centre on 1800 800 110.

The National Bushfire Recovery Agency website has information for small business and primary producers and families and individuals, particularly about financal and mental health assistance.

The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has created an information portal for smal and medium businesses affected by the bushfires.  There is helpful information relating to financial, grants, insurance, mental health support, tax, tourism etc. 

Other Financial assistance and advice is also available on the National Debt Helpline, which is staffed by financial counsellors and can be contacted on 1800 007 007.  Further, rural financial counsellors work with non-agriculture related small businesses (as well as farmers, offering free and independent financial support to primary producers ). The Rural Financial Counselling Service can be contacted on 1300 735 578.  The ACCI bushfire portal also has financial information for businesses. 

People in bushfire affected regions may be able to access Disaster Payments from Centrelink. More information is available on the Human Services website.  The Australian Red Cross also has emergency grants available.  The ACCI bushfire portal has information about grants and other financial support available to Australian businesses.

Anyone needing legal advice can contact the Australian Government Disaster Assist.

Information about insurance is available through:

• ACCI Bushfire portal
• Bushfire insurance guide
• Understand insurance – bushfires
• Australian Financial Complaints Authority.

There are a number of resources available to help with understanding the bushfires and their impact.  The best resources for you may be available through your local networks - here are just a few that we've found: 

• The Council for Intellectual Disability has released a Bushfire Info Guide for people with intellectual disability, and another on heatwaves. 
• Victoria specific - CFA Easy English guide How to be Safe from Bushfire in Victoria and social stories for children with autism on bushfire and grassfire.
• Expression Australia have video bushfire guides for the deaf community and share Auslan bushfire updates on their Facebook page.
• Community Trauma Toolkit for workers, parents and carers  
• Trauma and Grief Network for children and families
• The Queensland Disability Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction (DIDRR) Framework and Toolkit  produced by the Collaborating for Inclusion project
• Early Connections Alliance have developed the Bushfire Social Story for people with autism
• Australian Red Cross have developed emergency preparedness templates for an emergency plan and a survival kit checklist.  You can also download the Get Prepared app on IOS or Andrioid
• National Asthma Council - Bushfires and Asthma factsheet

If you would like to make a donation, you can do so locally to charities in your state or territory for example, the Community Enterprise Foundation Bushfire Disaster Appeal in Victoria.  Nationally, you can donate to the Australian Red Cross Bushfire Disaster Relief and Recovery, The Salvation Army Disaster Appeal, and First Nations Communities Fire relief fund. Many relief agencies ask people not to donate material goods.

Please be aware that there are reports of scammers collecting fraudulantly door-to-door.  The National Bushfire Recovery Agency website has information abour charities, scams and ways to volunteer.