By Clare BruceTuesday 12 Nov 2019Hope MorningsNewsReading Time: 8 minutes
As many Australians suffer devastation and loss from the bushfires ravaging many parts of the nation, you may wish to support one of the charities that are working to make a difference.
Donations to Charity
Australia’s Disaster Recovery Chaplains
Two organisations providing pastoral care and chaplaincy in response to the bushfires across the nation are the Disaster Recover Chaplaincy Network (DRCN), an arm of the Uniting Church in Australia, as well as Chaplaincy Australia, the Chaplaincy ministry of the Australian Christian Churches. Their chaplains are a constant presence in bushfire evacuation and recovery centres, providing a listening ear and comfort to those in distress. Support their work using the links below. (For those wanting to support the DRCN, the best way is to give to the Uniting Church’s Moderator’s Appeal.)
Donate to Chaplaincy Australia| Donate to the UCA Moderator’s Appeal
The NSW Rural Fire Service
Donations made to the NSW Rural Fire Brigade help them with essential equipment maintenance and upgrades, training and ongoing community work, enabling them to respond to fires as they arise. The NSW RFS donation page (see link below) enables you to donate to your chosen local brigade. If your brigade isn’t listed, contact your nearest Fire Control Centre. Donations over $2 are tax-deductible. For info on how to donate by bank or cheque head to the RFS Donations page.
Anglicare Bushfire Appeal 2020
Anglicare is helping fire-affected communities with needs such as a food and housing, and will also be providing long-term services such as trauma counselling. All funds raised will be directed to Anglicare services in the affected regions.
DONATIONS OF NON-PERISHABLE FOOD AND TOILETRIES are also being accepted, at Anglicare’s offices in Canberra, Wagga Wagga, Ashmont and Albury, and at some local Anglican churches. Grocery parcels help families to focus their finances on recovery and rebuilding. This is especially important for Anglicare’s foster carers, some of whom have been forced to leave their homes while caring for already vulnerable and traumatised children. More info on the Bushfire Appeal website.
Donate to the Anglicare 2020 Bushfire Appeal
Salvation Army Bushfire Disaster Appeal
The Salvation Army Emergency Services is responding to the NSW and Queensland bushfires with teams in multiple locations. They are providing meals to evacuees and frontline responders, and will continue to provide whatever support is needed as the situation develops.
Major Topher Holland, head of Strategic Emergency and Disaster Management, said that they’ve never been called on this much for help.
“For our Salvo Emergency Services to be active at this many locations at one time in one region is unprecedented,” he said.
Financial support will be used to deliver crucial help when it’s needed, and to stay for long as it takes to help local communities recover.
Donate to the Salvos Bushfire Disaster Appeal
Food Bank
The food sharing charity Food Bank which works to fight against hunger, is helping people affected by bushfires particularly in Victoria. Find out more on their website.
Donate to the Foodbank Bushfire Appeal
Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund
The Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund (GERF) is a registered charity that was established in 1978 to provide immediate short-term funds to Gippslanders affected by natural disaster events. It is completely funded by donations from businesses, community groups and individuals. Run by volunteers, all donations are returned to the community.
Donate to the Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund
Animal Welfare and Rescue Charities
In bushfires animals are often forgotten victims. Animal welfare organisations such as WIRES and the RSPCA, zoos, and groups that care for specific animals such as koalas, are always in need of financial support to help them do vital work in caring for our furry friends. Many koala populations have been seriously effected by the bushfires in areas such as Port Macquarie and Kangaroo Island. Use the links below to make a donation to your charity of choice.
RSPCA | WIRES| Port Macquarie Koala Hospital | Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park| Animal Welfare League
| Mogo Zoo
Vinnies Bushfire Appeal
The St Vincent de Paul Society is on the ground helping victims in the aftermath of the bushfires and will also be there to help with longer-term recovery. Funds raised in its disaster appeal provide food, clothing, essentials, and financial help, as well as emotional support. Fire victims will also be referred to other support and accommodation services.
Donate to the Vinnies Bushfire Appeal
Australian Red Cross First Aid and Emergency Support
Australian Red Cross teams are working in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia to support those affected by fires.
Specialist emergency volunteers are giving immediate first aid and emotional support, working at evacuation centres, and helping people to make contact with loved ones.
The best way to support the work of the Red Cross is by donation. They are not taking new volunteers or donations of goods at the present time.
In NSW, more than 60 Red Cross volunteers are supporting people at 16 evacuation centres across the state, and 16 volunteers are working in Queensland.
Margaret Kiehne, a volunteer at the Glen Innes evacuation centre in New South Wales said the community of Glen Innes was “in total shock”.
“They all thought that they were reasonably prepared and the fire came at such a pace,” she said. “They just couldn’t believe that it travelled as quickly as it did. A lot of them had to leave without anything at all. They turned up at the evacuation centre in only the clothes they stand up in.”
To get involved in future Red Cross emergency responses, visit the Become a volunteer page and fill out the registration form.
Donate to the Red Cross
A Note About Donating Clothes & Household Goods
Often charity stores are overwhelmed with donations in times of national emergency, and cannot cope with the volume. If you have clothes and household goods you wish to donate to charity, please check with your local charity store first to make sure your donation will be a help and not be a hindrance.
Practical Help
Help Individuals Through Givit
Givit is a platform where charities list the exact items people need, that the public can match, or where the public can register items they would like to give away, in case someone has use for them. Givit is currently running two specific campaigns supporting NSW and Queensland bushfire victims. Find Out More
Blaze Aid – Helping Rural Families on Damaged Properties
BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works to support farming families and individuals in rural Australia, after natural disasters like bushfires and floods. The charity was founded after the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.
Volunteers help to rebuild fences and farm buildings that have been damaged on the properties of primary producers, as well as restoring gardens and machinery, removing fallen trees—and bringing a much-needed lift to the spirits of those suffering great loss.
Volunteers may work in affected areas for days, weeks or even months. Since the organisation began, volunteers have come from all over Australia and the world.
Blaze Aid operates by setting up homebase camps in affected towns, and from there, the work required is co-ordinated by camp co-ordinators each day.
Update, 6.12.19: Currently, Blaze Aid has several camps operating in NSW including at Ebor, Casino, Ewingar, Wingham, Macksville, Willawarrin, and in Edithburgh, South Australia.
Find out more and apply to assist through the Blaze Aid Camps information page.
Offer Your Home to an Evacuee
The homeshare accommodation service, AirBNB, has a disaster relief service through Airbnb’s Open Homes program, whereby property owners offer free, temporary housing to those who need it. This may include relief workers, neighbours who’ve had to evacuate, and others impacted by disasters like bushfire.
AIrBNB is currently looking for home owners who have housing in NSW and Queensland that they can offer, such as spare rooms or an empty apartment, with comfortable beds, basic amenities and toiletries.
Find out more or register: Homes in NSW | Homes in Victoria
Volunteer for Your Local Bushfire Brigade
Often in times of widespread bushfire, many people feel moved to volunteer for a brigade. Bushfire Brigades such as the Rural Fire Service welcome volunteers in a wide range of roles, including:
- Firefighting
- Administration
- Communications
- Catering
- Community Education
- Community Engagement
- Training
- Operational Logistics Support
- Welfare Support
- Equipment Maintenance
- Youth Development
Training is generally free of charge, insurance is covered, and many qualifications are accredited and transferrable in other contexts. Once trained for a role, your brigade will arrange any personal protective clothing and equipment required. Most services require you to fill out an application form and attend an interview to assess your suitability. Find out more by following the links below.
Yes, I want to volunteer!
NSW Rural Fire Service | Queensland Rural Fire Service | South Australian Country Fire Service| Victorian Country Fire Authority | Bushfire Volunteers Western Australia
Help Injured Animals or Wildlife
If you are in a bushfire affected area and find a native animal that’s been injured or is suffering, the best group to contact is the Wildlife Information and Rescue Service, WIRES. The group is on standby in bushfire season to get to affected animals as soon as the RFS declares an area safe.
If you find a domestic animal such as a dog or cat after a natural disaster, or wish to adopt a rescued animal, contact your local animal shelter. Adopting an animal or volunteering with an animal welfare organisation is also a very practical way to make a difference.
Adopt with the RSPCA | Adopt with the Animal Welfare League
Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Relief and Fire Recovery Kits
The Christian-based charity Samaritan’s Purse has been on the ground in bushfire affected parts of northern NSW since October, responding to emergency need.
They are helping with rubbish removal and property clearing, and are handing out fire recovery kits. The kits contain cleanup tools such as shovels, rakes, mattocks, wrecking bars, steel claw hammers, pliers, and safety wear such as gloves, face masks, safety goggles and more.
The kits are helping families clear their property and find valuable items in the rubble.
You can support the work by donating $300 for a Fire Recovery Kit. Samaritan’s Purse is also asking for prayer for their teams as they continue their recovery work.
Donate to the Samaritan’s Purse Bushfire Relief Work
Update December 20: Volunteers needed!
Samaritans Purse have sent out some volunteers to help those battling the fires, with evacuating and the cleanup. However, because the fires have been going on for so long now, the volunteers need a break. Samaritan’s Purse is desperately looking for more volunteers.
Find out How You Can Volunteer With Samaritan’s Purse