“The devastating nature of these fires is horrifying, and our thoughts are with the consumers and small businesses impacted. It’s important that we ensure these communities have timely support and relevant information about financial recovery, and can get financial issues addressed quickly,” Mr Guest said. 

“We know that right now the focus is on ensuring the safety of yourself, your family and your property. If you’ve been impacted, the first step is to contact your insurer or broker to start the claims process.

“It’s also a good idea to document damage when it’s safe to do so, by taking photos or making notes. If there’s a problem with your claim, it’s important to have evidence you can use to back it up.”

Mr Guest said AFCA has special processes that identify and expedite complaints from people in the impacted communities, and can assist them to resolve any complaints with their financial firm as quickly as possible.