ICA supports Grampians community at bushfire recovery forum

Incident caused widespread damage, led to over 130 claims

ICA supports Grampians community at bushfire recovery forum

Catastrophe & Flood

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The Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) participated in a community forum in Halls Gap, Victoria, to support residents affected by recent bushfires in the Grampians.

The fires, which burned through farmland and national parks from Dec. 17, 2024, to Jan. 6, 2025, caused widespread damage and led to around 134 insurance claims, including business interruption cases.

Halls Gap community forum

The forum was organised by Federal Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster MP and aimed to provide practical information and resources to those recovering from the disaster. It also offered residents an opportunity to share their experiences and ask questions directly to insurance representatives.

Alongside the ICA, the National Insurance Brokers Association (NIBA) and the Rural Financial Counselling Service were present to address concerns.

Abbie Wilson, NIBA’s director of national insurance brokers, reiterated the association’s calls for the critical need for accessible and affordable insurance.

“NIBA is proud to stand with the Grampians community, advocating passionately for brokers, their clients, and the critical need for accessible and affordable insurance to protect what matters most,” she said.

Bushfires are rampant in the region

Liam Walter, ICA’s director of mitigation and extreme weather response, emphasised that bushfires of this scale are not new to the region, with similar events occurring within the past year.

“The Grampians is unfortunately no stranger to natural disasters of this scale, with the most recent bushfires being the second time in 12 months that community members have been impacted by significant fires causing direct and indirect damage to businesses, property, and community assets,” he said.

Importance of community forums

The ICA described community forums as essential for helping policyholders navigate the claims process, connect with insurers, and access the resources needed to rebuild.

“The ICA and insurers are committed to supporting their customers who are recovering from these most recent devastating events, which again highlight how vulnerable many local communities are to natural disasters linked to Australia’s harsh climate,” Walter said.

New ICA guide aims to boost disaster readiness among insurers

The community forum follows the release of a new “Extreme Weather and Disaster Response Planning Guide,” designed to improve the insurance industry’s ability to manage large-scale natural disasters. The guide incorporated insights from events like the 2022 floods in New South Wales and Queensland, which resulted in more than 240,000 claims and $6.16 billion in payouts by mid-2024.

The ICA’s analysis revealed varying levels of disaster readiness among insurers, with some demonstrating robust planning while others encountered operational difficulties during major events.

The guide urged insurers to implement structured governance, establish clear criteria for identifying disaster events, and develop transparent communication strategies for customers and stakeholders. It also encouraged insurers to create scalable disaster plans tailored to their risk profiles and event types.

Other suggested measures included stress testing, scenario planning, and ongoing reviews of disaster responses to identify areas for improvement. These recommendations align with the ICA’s broader strategy to foster collaboration and community engagement throughout the disaster management lifecycle.

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