Jesuit Social Services stands in solidarity with the communities across Victoria who have been impacted by the recent bushfires and flooding.
These events have caused profound disruption and loss, placing immense pressure on individuals, families, community networks and the organisations working tirelessly to support response and recovery.
The increasing frequency and severity of these events is not incidental; they reflect the accelerating impacts of climate change. These climate‑driven disasters compound existing social and economic inequities. Communities experiencing housing insecurity, financial stress, racism, disability or limited access to services often face the greatest exposure to harm and the longest recovery journeys.
Across Victoria and nationally, community organisations and local volunteers are once again, the frontline workers so vital to communities facing disaster and continue to demonstrate the strength and critical need of place‑based, community‑led responses. Their work shows that recovery and adaptation efforts grounded in local knowledge and trusted relationships are essential to ensuring timely responses are tailored to community priorities.
We call for sustained, long‑term investment in place-based climate adaptation and disaster resilience, to enable the safeguards needed in communities now and in the future – not only short‑term emergency responses. Climate justice requires resourcing the communities most affected, supporting the organisations that walk alongside them, and ensuring that recovery and adaptation efforts address the structural inequities that shape climate risk.
For those seeking information or support, resources are available through:
- Emergency Recovery Victoria: Assistance with emergency payments, mental health support, clean‑up and business recovery.
- VicEmergency: Current warnings, relief information and recovery updates.
- Australian Red Cross: Practical support for coping, cleaning up and returning home after a fire or flood.
- VCOSS: 2026 Victorian Bushfire Resources
