Important information for clients affected by the Victorian Bushfires

At Howden, we’re closely monitoring the Victorian bushfires and their potential impact on our valued clients in the region.

Our team remains ready to assist any clients who need to lodge a claim with insurers should damage occur.

We recommend continuing to monitor official government websites, social media, TV and radio broadcasts for updates on safety, property risks and the progress of the fires.

For bushfire-specific updates, please refer to the Country Fire Authority (CFA) website and official channels for real-time information on fire locations, warnings and evacuation advice. You can also download the VicEmergency app for alerts and emergency information relevant to your area.

If your property is damaged and it’s safe to do so, you are welcome to engage your preferred repairers to make the property safe. If you cannot locate a repairer yourself, please contact your Account Manager or call our claims team on 1300 904 503.

Please ensure you:

• Take clear photos or videos of any damage to buildings and/or contents that may be relevant for your claim.
• Keep quotes and invoices to make available to insurers should you need to make a claim.
• Make a record of any items you must dispose of due to safety or health risks. Include item description, brand, model, serial number, etc., and photograph these items individually.
• Stay safe.

If you need to notify insurers of a claim, please contact your broker as soon as possible with the following information. We will then liaise with insurers to begin the claims process.

• Approximate date and time of loss
• Address of the damaged location (include nearby landmarks if remote)
• Brief summary of what has been damaged
• Whether the property is accessible or still under threat
• Whether emergency services are still active in the area
• Whether access has been granted to emergency services
• Best contact details to pass on to assessors (name, phone, email)

Should you require emergency or urgent assistance, please call:

Emergency Calls: 000
State Emergency Service: 132 500