The Australian government has announced 76 million Australian dollars ($52.4 million) in funding for mental health services in bushfire-affected communities.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that the funding would cover free counselling sessions, health consultations and rebates for 10 psychological therapy sessions via Medicare, Australia's universal public healthcare system, Xinhua reported on Monday.

"These bushfires have been unprecedented in their scale, coverage and duration," he said.

"They have also taken a traumatic emotional toll on our people. We need to ensure the trauma and mental health needs of our people are supported in a way like we never have before."

At least 28 people have died and more than 2,000 homes have been destroyed across the country in bushfires.

"We know that trauma and tragedy are deeply linked with mental health impacts and what we're seeing now is that people are in the early phases of recovery and response," Health Minister Greg Hunt said.

"Initial early treatment for mental health can make a very significant long-term difference.

"But even then, in three or six months, post-traumatic stress can emerge, and so early action is vitally important but also to be there over the medium and the long term."

An inquiry into the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires, the most deadly bushfires in Australian history, found that mental health impacts persisted for five years after the disaster for some victims.

Christine Morgan, the head of the National Mental Health Commission, welcomed the funding announcement.

"This is a particularly distressing time for everyone across the country," she told News Corp Australia.

"Because of this, it is important that the mental health and wellbeing of Australians is supported immediately, as well as providing ongoing long-term interventions.

Search-rescue mission for animals on fire-ravaged Aus island

 A disaster response team has been deployed to South Australia's bushfire-ravaged Kangaroo Island on Monday to begin a search and rescue mission for thousands of animals caught in the blaze.

As well as rescuing wildlife suffering from burns, injuries, smoke inhalation and other trauma, the team formed by the animal charity Humane Society International, will also build water and food stations to sustain the uninjured animals, reports Xinhua news agency.

But according to Humane Society International senior specialist in disaster response, Kelly Donithan, conditions on the ground were extremely harrowing.

"These are some of the toughest scenes I've ever witnessed as an animal rescuer. The bodies of charred animals as far as the eye can see," she said.

"However, as we set out each day on search and rescue, we're still finding animals alive, injured, dazed or traumatized, and it's such a relief to be able to give them immediate life-saving assistance.

"We've seen kangaroos with devastating burn injuries and dehydrated koalas gasping for water. Amidst all this death, every time we find an animal alive it feels like a miracle," Donithan added.

Home to the Flinders Chase National Park and a number of wildlife reserves, before the bushfires began this season there were estimated to be about 50,000 koalas on Kangaroo Island.

But with 215,000 hectares of vegetation or half the island now scorched, experts fear that around 30,000 koalas might have died, along with 32,000 livestock.

Despite the grim reality facing rescuers, however, Donithan said the team was determined to help any animals that may still be alive.

The raging fires that began last September have also killed 28 people and burnt thousands of houses.

After several days high temperatures, cooler weather been forecast for the coming week, which could give a much-needed respite and an opportunity for firefighters to contain the blazes in different parts of the country.