Disaster Legal Helpline
Disaster Legal Helpline
Provides legal information, advice and referrals for people affected by natural disasters.
The fastest way to ask questions or get general information is via webchat. Webchat is available through Disaster Legal Help partner Victoria Legal Aid's website. When available, the Legal Help Chat tab will appear at the bottom of your screen on http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/.
Tel: 1800 113 432, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
Provides information during and after major incidents in Victoria. It also offers information to help householders, landowners and small businesses plan for and recover from emergencies.
Tel: 1800 226 226, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm
www.emergency.vic.gov.au
Volunteer and community-based fire and emergency services organisation. Find the contact details of your Region's District Headquarters at www.cfa.vic.gov.au/contact/.
For registration and help from a case manager.
Tel: 132 850 (Exceptional Circumstances Relief Help), Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
Tel: 132 316 (Farmer Assistance), Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/subjects/crisis-and-special-help
Information on assistance for current and previous disasters that have impacted Australians, including up-to-date public information messages, relevant free call numbers, information on Australian Government assistance packages and links to other relevant websites.
www.disasterassist.gov.au
Community legal centres provide free or low-cost legal advice. The following community legal centres can help people in bushfire-affected regions:
Tel: (03) 5135 9550
Tel toll free: 1800 004 402
https://www.gcls.org.au/
Email: GCLS@anglicarevic.org.au
Address: 190 Commercial Rd Morwell, Victoria 3840 Australia
Tel: (02) 6055 8090
Tel toll free: 1800 918 377
https://www.hrcls.org.au/
Email: cls@umfc.com.au
Address: 27-29 Stanley St Wodonga, VIC 3690 Australia
To find a community legal centre near you (including rural and regional areas), or a specialist community legal centre.
Tel: (03) 9652 1500, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
https://www.fclc.org.au/
Call the Law Institute of Victoria's Legal Referral Service for referral to a lawyer near you. All referrals are to Law Institute of Victoria members who have agreed to speak to clients for up to the first 30 minutes free of charge.
Tel: (03) 9607 9550, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm
www.liv.asn.au/find-a-lawyer
Free legal information over the phone and legal advice and representation in courts and tribunals.
Tel: 1300 792 387, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
www.legalaid.vic.gov.au
Tel: 1300 606 024, seven days, 24 hours
www.health.vic.gov.au/nurseoncall
Tel: 1300 224 636, seven days, 24 hours
www.beyondblue.org.au
Tel: 131 114, seven days, 24 hours
Online chat: seven days, 7 pm to 4 am
www.lifeline.org.au
For confidential counseling for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.
Tel: (03) 9935 7400 (Melbourne) or 1300 845 745 (landline), seven days, 12 pm to 3 am
www.griefline.org.au
Offers telephone counselling service to parents and carers of children aged from birth to 18 years old.
Tel: 132 289, seven days, 8 am to 12 am
For children and young people. Offering telephone counselling, email counselling or web counselling, and where to get help in your local area.
Tel: 1800 551 800, seven days, 24 hours
www.kidshelpline.com.au
To speak to someone in your own language, call the number and ask the interpreter to put you through to the service you need. This service is free for most government and community organisations that you are calling.
Tel: 131 450, seven days, 24 hours
www.tisnational.gov.au
If you are hearing impaired, call these numbers for help. This service is free.
Tel: 133 677 (TTY) and 1300 555 727 (speak and listen), seven days, 24 hours
www.relayservice.gov.au