Who can help?

The Sarsfield community was heavily impacted by the bush fires in December 2019/20. The following information is intended to help locate recovery resources if you need support.

General services

A Community Recovery Hub has been established next to the Sarsfield hall by Bushfire Recovery Victoria (BRV). The hub is staffed by Hub Services Coordinator Colleen Crosbie. Colleen is available to assist local residents with finding recovery assistance. Please call ahead if you intend to drop in.

Sarsfield Tool Library

The tool library is located at the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve, School Rd, Sarsfield. · The tool library is open from 2 pm to 4 pm every Monday and Friday. You can contact Allan Knewstubb on 0400 937655 for more information.

Please make a booking using the link below if you wish to use the tool library.

Click here to make a booking

Fire safety education

The Fire Safety Outreach program is a free service for community members and professionals to access information and fire safety education from trained CFA community education officers. Our community education officers will get in touch at a time that suits, via whatever communication method works for you.

Find out about:


  • Bushfire planning for your household;
  • Property preparation for bushfire;
  • Understanding the fire danger ratings;
  • Where to gain trusted information during emergencies;
  • Fire restrictions, what you can and cannot do;
  • Home fire safety information;
  • Support education sessions for your community groups and clubs.

To register your interest for the program please contact firesafetyoutreach@cfa.vic.gov.au or call 0419 874 484 (BH). We will then make contact with you and refer you to one of our CFA Community Education Officers

Landscaping for Bushfires

Andrea Proctor presentation at the Sarsfield Bushfire Expo 2022 - find the presentation here

Grant help

Looking for that one spot where you can quickly go to for grant information? Peter Williams from Deloitte has developed a virtual one stop shop for federal, state and local government grants. It is very intuitive. 

Rebuilding your property

Property planning

East Gippsland Shire has launched a Bushfire Rebuild and Planning Concierge Service. The objective of the concierge service is to provide specialised advice to help streamline both the planning application requirements and overall rebuild of bushfire effected properties. You can find out more here..

Burnt fencing wire drop off point

A drop off point is now open for Sarsfield and Clifton Creek residents to drop off burnt fencing wire. The drop off point is located on the Sarsfield side of the bridge over the Nicholson river on the Great Alpine Road. Please not only metal can be dropped off, no timber of plastic posts, insulators etc.

Machinery and tools for rebuilding

The Bruthen Lions tool library is now fully stocked with around 200 items. The tool library is located at the Sarsfield Recreation Reserve, School Rd, Sarsfield. The Library is open from 2 – 4pm Monday and Friday each week. If you borrow Monday you return Friday. If you borrow Friday you return Monday. All returns need to be at 3pm to make the tools available for others. You can book the tools online by clicking this link.

Workplace pathways for young people

The Red Cross Education and Workplace Pathways Grant assists young people looking to continue their education or to support those looking for work. This grant could help with paying education fees, accessing technology to support work or education needs, or purchasing work related attire such as safety gear. To qualify, you need to:
  • Be between 15 and 25 years old;
  • Have identification (or government letter) to demonstrate that your residence was in a bushfire impacted area, and proof of residency (e.g. utility bill);
  • Provide evidence of school or course enrolment;
  • Provide evidence around your workplace situation – this will be discussed with you.
If approved for a grant, a bank statement or internet banking screenshot, clearly showing your name; bank name; BSB; and account details, will be required. This is so we can transfer funds to your account. To apply or for more information, please call The Salvation Army’s Bushfire disaster team on 1300 662 217 or email sal.disasters@salvationarmy.org.au

Mental health support

Rural Health Connect

An online platform that allows you to do free sessions with a psychologist over video conferencing.

Sessions are bulk billed (free) for anyone whose mental health has been impacted by bushfires (you do not need to have been directly impacted). No GP referral or mental health care plan necessary if the session is related to bushfires. Wide range of specialties available, including sessions for children.

Simply go to the website and sign up. We will then call you to confirm which psychologist and time would suit.
www.ruralhealthconnect.com.au
We are here to help. Please call 0427 692 377 for assistance.