Red Cross distributes 95.5 per cent of its bushfire fund, including on Kangaroo Island

This represents 95.5 per cent of the $242 million raised and includes many people on Kangaroo Island, some of whom lost everything in the fires.

Red Cross national recovery coordinator Shona Whitton said Red Cross saw an outpouring of support for people caught up in the fires, which burned more than 18 million hectares, caused 34 deaths and destroyed over 5900 buildings including 2779 homes.

"As we've learned over successive disasters it was important that we allocated funds for immediate response and for the longer-term recovery, and as expected many people did not come forward for help until well after the fires," she said.

"We started providing grants within a few days of the fires at New Year's Eve to meet immediate needs and we continued providing grants to respond to needs as they emerged and also for longer term support and recovery.

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"We have continued to offer support as people need it. We have been there when impacted and traumatised people and communities have been ready, be that for help with immediate needs or as people start to rebuild and recover.

"Many people think initially they'll cope without financial help, some are too traumatised and others believe their neighbours are worse off and more deserving.

"More than 40pc of grant recipients applied after June 2020, at least six months after the fires and 245 people came forward in financial need for the first time more than one year after the fires."

Ms Whitton thanked the independent Advisory Panel who volunteered to guide decisions on using the funds and said less than 5pc of funds were used for admin costs.

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