WFI Insurance is providing funding and support to farmers and rural communities affected by recent bushfires in Victoria and severe weather in Queensland, including contributions to farmer groups and a formal partnership with Rural Aid.
WFI Insurance has donated $50,000 to the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) Disaster Relief Fund to assist farmers affected by the current bushfires in Victoria. The VFF Disaster Relief Fund has been activated to provide immediate, farmer-led support to producers impacted by the fires, with distribution decisions made by representatives of the farming sector. WFI executive general manager Damien Gallagher said the insurer is working with organisations that are based in agricultural regions and involved in local response efforts. “The terrible bushfires in Victoria have hit farming communities hard, and our hearts go out to them. With our donation of $50,000 to the VFF Disaster Relief Fund, we continue to support on-the-ground organisations that can deliver help quickly and effectively,” Gallagher said.
The donation sits alongside WFI’s disaster-related claims activity for rural clients and its use of local networks to reach impacted policyholders. WFI’s distribution network includes more than 100 authorised representatives and sales representatives located in rural and regional Australia. They work with farm businesses on insurance placement, risk management, and claims, including during and after major events. “Our on-the-ground disaster response partners play a critical role in helping rural communities recover from disasters. Their local knowledge, resources, and volunteer networks are fundamental in helping our farmers get back on their feet,” Gallagher said.
The VFF funding follows WFI’s announcement of a formal partnership with Rural Aid on Jan. 7, expanding the insurer’s use of third-party relief providers in disaster-affected regions. The agreement builds on an earlier relationship established in April 2025, when WFI donated $250,000 to Rural Aid to support farmers affected by catastrophic flooding in Western Queensland. That event caused significant damage to farms, homes, and rural infrastructure and resulted in the loss of more than 150,000 livestock.
Rural Aid provides practical assistance to farmers and rural communities, including hay, water, water tanks, financial support, and mental health and wellbeing services. Under the partnership, WFI will provide funding to Rural Aid programs in regions impacted by natural disasters, including areas affected by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in northwest Queensland. “Farming communities in Northwest Queensland have been severely impacted by weeks of heavy rain, and they remain under immense pressure. Our partnership with Rural Aid will support the relief and rebuilding efforts in the region following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. WFI Insurance is proud to partner and support organisations that share the same values and are aligned with our purpose – to make your world a safer place,” Gallagher said.
WFI’s initiatives sit within a broader disaster response by its parent company, Insurance Australia Group (IAG), which is managing claims arising from the Victorian bushfires and Ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji. IAG – whose brands include NRMA Insurance, CGU, WFI, Rollin’, RACQ Insurance, and RACV – has set up a mobile claims centre in Seymour, Victoria. The facility provides an in-person contact point for customers, including those without power or reliable connectivity, and allows claimants to lodge claims, arrange temporary accommodation, and access emergency financial assistance.
IAG executive general manager of claims Luke Gallagher said the group is prioritising immediate assistance and property assessments as conditions continue to change. “IAG has been proactively reaching out to customers in Victorian communities affected by bushfires, arranging temporary accommodation, emergency financial assistance, and insurance claim support. Our Major Event Response Teams have begun property assessments, and emergency repairs to help people impacted by these terrible bushfires to get back on their feet as quickly as possible,” he said. Gallagher also encouraged residents in south-eastern Australia to remain alert to official warnings, noting that bushfire risk remains elevated across Victoria, New South Wales, and South Australia. The continuing events are expected to generate ongoing claims and recovery activity for insurers, intermediaries, and loss partners servicing rural and regional markets.
