Australia’s bushfire disaster rages on as fires continue to blaze around the country. The flames have already left over 11 million acres of land scorched and forced tens of thousands from their homes.
Here are some ways to help those affected by the Australian bushfires.
Donate to the firefighters
New South Wales
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Rural Fire Service | Help the volunteer firefighters on the frontline. |
Online: Donate here Call: Contact local fire brigade |
Victoria
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| Country Fire Association | Support fire-affected communities and the efforts of Victorian firefighters. | Online: Donate here |
Queensland
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| Rural Fire Brigades Association | Support fire-affected communities and the efforts of Queensland's firefighters. | Online: Donate here |
South Australia
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| Country Fire Service | Support fire-affected communities and the efforts of South Australian firefighters. | Online: Donate here |
How to help those affected
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| The Salvation Army | Working with affected communities, evacuees and frontline responders. |
Online: Donate here Call: 13 SALVOS (13 72 58) In person: at any Woolworths checkout |
| Australian Red Cross | Supporting communities affected by fires including providing specialist emergency volunteers providing psychological first aid and working at evacuation centres. | Online: Donate here |
| The St Vincent De Paul Society (Vinnies) | Providing food, clothing, furniture and other essentials including funds to support with bills. | Online: Donate here In person: at any Vinnies store |
| GIVIT | Through the GIVIT website, Australian charities request exactly what they need and donors can pledge items for donation. | Online: See its NSW and Queensland bushfire victimscampaigns |
| Foodbank | Delivering food relief and water to East Gippsland. | Online: Donate here |
| Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund | Local volunteers in Gippsland support communities affected by natural disasters. | Online: Donate here In person: at any NAB branch in Australia or at Alan Wilson Insurance Brokers at 40 Argyle St, Traralgon |
| Bendigo Bank Bushfire Disaster Appeal | Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army are raising funds to support East Gippsland, Hume, South East New South Wales and Adelaide Hills. | Online: Donate here |
| Airbnb | Sharing free accommodation options for people evacuating emergency fire zones with free accommodation being provided until 16 January 2020. | Online: List your property in NSW or in Victoria |
| Find a Bed | Assist with accommodation for those displaced by bushfires. | Online: register online |
| GoFundMe | Discover fire fundraisers on GoFundMe. | Online: view the list of fundraisers |
Supporting animal rescue and wildlife
| Organisation | Description | How to donate |
|---|---|---|
| NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES | Improve capabilities to rescue and care for animals. | Online Donate here |
| Port Macquarie Koala Hospital | Raising funds for both wildlife in the Port Macquarie area but also sharing funds with other wildlife organisations in affected regions in NSW. | Online Donate here |
| RSPCA NSW | Staff are assisting at evacuation centres in northern NSW and beyond, helping members of the public keep their pets and livestock safe from the fires | Online Donate here |
Spread the word online
It is important to spread the word online through social media channels to encourage others to provide support in this time of crisis. The bushfires are starting to get international attention and with that support through donations.
Australian comedian Celeste Barber has helped raise over $30 million via an online Facebook fundraising page. This effort is bringing international attention to the bushfire crisis in Australia.
ERemit’s fundraising efforts
ERemit has kicked off its own fundraising for the bushfires by donating $ 1 for every completed transfer requests and the funds will be directed to bushfire relief in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC.
Please share and support us by spreading the news so that we can help the Australian people, and our extraordinary land and wildlife, who are all in desperate need right now.
A warning about bushfire donation scams
Unfortunately, some scammers may see the Australian bushfires as an opportunity to take advantage of people’s generosity. The government's Scam watch agency has released a statement warning of this risk. It has also previously warned of scams related other crises – including the 2009 Victorian bushfires (also known as the Black Saturday bushfires).
Scammers could approach you in the street, through door-knocking or by setting up online donation pages that look legitimate at first glance. You can make sure your funds go to legitimate causes by checking the organisation's details before you donate. If you're donating online, make sure the website is secure by checking for an "https" at the start of the address, as well as the padlock symbol.
Visit the Scamwatch website for more information and report suspected scams to the ACCC.
