VIC Flood News

If you or anyone you know is in immediate danger please call 000

Disaster Legal Help Victoria website for more information. Phone number: 1800 113 432

Flood Response

Our thoughts are with all those who are impacted by the extensive flooding across North and Central Victoria. In addition to the physical damage, disasters

October 18, 2022

Do you need legal help?

Floods and storms can cause legal problems. While insurance claim issues often come to mind, lawyers can provide practical advice to help with myriad issues arising from the disaster. Renters can find themselves in tricky situations when their rental has been damaged. Lawyers and our tenancy advocates at Housing Justice can provide essential information and advice.

Issue	Common Questions or Problems	Resources
Centrelink (Services Australia)	I’m having trouble receiving social security payments	Social Securities Rights Victoria
Court hearing scheduled	Do I have to travel to court? (e.g. displaced and housed in Mickleham but court is listed in Shepparton)	Magistrates Court Victoria (has advice of which courts are sitting and whether in person/online due to floods)
Emergency Payments	Can I get any emergency payments? I should be eligible for emergency payments, but my application was declined.	Services Australia – Vic Floods Recovery Support – Victorian Floods Social Securities Rights Victoria
Employment	I need time off work to deal with my flood impacted home I’ve been displaced and can’t get to work – can I get time off? My workplace is shut because of flood damage – can they stand me down?	Fair Work Ombudsman Information about entitlements and rights JobWatch Specialist community legal centre providing information about workplace rights in Victoria
Family Violence	I need help with family violence I need to vary an existing Family Violence Intervention Order I need help to change our parenting plan	000 – if you are in immediate danger The Orange Door Loddon Campaspe or Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre
Homelessness	I am homeless or in danger of becoming homeless This may or may not be related to the floods, but the housing crisis has worsened because of them.	Housing Justice DFFH – Getting help if you are in urgent need of somewhere to stay
Insurance	My insurance may not cover flooding I’ve been offered a cash settlement – should I take it? A business is charging me to handle my claim for me – is this ok? Can I throw out damaged parts of my house or belongings? Can I get reimbursed by my insurer for any repairs I’ve made to my house?	Consumer Action Law Centre Specialist community legal centre helping people with debts and consumer issues (which includes insurance contracts). Financial Rights Legal Centre – Making a claim for flood damage
Legal Documents	I lost important documents in the floods	Births, Deaths, and Marriages Victoria – natural disasters Loddon Campaspe or Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centre
Property Damage	My fencing was damaged and needs repairs or replacing Who pays to remove fallen trees and other debris?	Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria – Fencing in Victoria Financial Rights Legal Centre – Making a claim for flood damage
Small Business	My business is flood affected and I have Insurance issues Employer issues Contractual issues	Justice Connect Victorian Small Business Commission
Tenancy/Renting	I’ve been given an Eviction notice due to the uninhabitability of my home My rental has urgent repairs required Mould: my house is already or will be mouldy Non-urgent repairs required Displaced (and not likely to be able to go back) and still paying rent Trouble paying rent	Housing Justice Tenants Vic Homepage \| Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria (only taking VCAT renting matters for now)

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Advocacy and Rights Centre Ltd trading as ARC Justice ABN 23 082 541 240 ARC Justice incorporates Loddon Campaspe and Goulburn Valley Community Legal Centres and Housing Justice.

ARC Justice acknowledges Aboriginal Peoples as the traditional and current custodians of the land upon which we work. We respect that this land always was and always will be Aboriginal land. Aboriginal sovereignty has never been ceded.

We pay our respect to Elders past and present, as well as all Aboriginal people who have fought, and continue to fight, for equality, self-determination, culture, Country and community.

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VIC Flood News

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