Australian Bushfire Disaster and How You Can Help

As the devastating bushfires are spreading throughout Australia, I have been looking for a list of national as well as state-wide charities, not-for-profit and organisations to share with my community. But I haven’t found the information in one place. So here I’ve collated as best as I can a comprehensive list to highlight those who urgently need our help.

There has been a lot confusion about where to donate. Some charities such as WIRES (Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service), a NSW based wildlife rescue have raised $11million after receiving celebrities and public support while Wildlife Victoria, who have not had as much publicity, have only raised $1.25million. Those donating must do their research to know where and which state their funds are going to. Also consider whether they are charity, not-for-profit or government organisations. Many of the smaller non-government funded organisations urgently need our help.

Please comment below, email or message me via social about others to include. Of course I cannot include all but here are some of the small as well as big nation and state-wide organisations needing our help!

Victoria

New South Wales

South Australia

Kangaroo Island is renowned for its native wildlife — the koalas are disease-free, the bees create the purest honey and it is home to one of Australia's rarest marsupials and now they need our help.

  • Help Save Kangaroo Island’s Koalas and Wildlife Fundraiser

    Kangaroo Island is the only place in the world where Koala’s are free from chlamydia. The thriving population was estimated to be 50,000 before the bushfires and it’s unclear now how many remain. These donations go towards Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park helping with veterinary costs, koala milk and supplements, extra holding/rehabilitation enclosures, as well as setting up a building to hold supplies to treat the animals.

    Donate here: https://au.gofundme.com/f/help-save-kangaroo-islands-koalas-and-wildlife

  • Help Rebuild Kangaroo Island's Koala Sanctuary

    This fundraiser is to aid the Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary whose 5,000 acre wildlife sanctuary and thousands of native wildlife animals including our much loved population of koalas have been decimated. The funds will go to rebuild the sanctuary grounds and regenerate the vegetation for the wildlife that survived. The Gofundme run by Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park above is raising the much needed funds for the immediate treatment of animals affected from all over the island.

    Donate here: https://au.gofundme.com/f/1uykisdumo

  • Save the Ligurian Bee

    Kangaroo Island’s Ligurian Bees are believe to be the last remaining pure stock of this bee found anywhere in the world. A quarter of the island’s population has been wiped out from the bushfires. The funds donated here will be used to purchase bee feeders and feed to save the remaining bees and used to launch a queen breeding program so to not loose the purity of the Ligurian Bee.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/save-the-ligurian-bee

  • Majors Bushfire Appeal Fund

    This fund will help Kangaroo Island community get back on their feet.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mayors-bushfire-appeal-fund

  • Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital

    AKAW provides free emergency vet services to injured wildlife as well as rehabilitation and release.

    Donate here: http://www.akawhospital.org.au/

  • Adelaide Koala Rescue - Bushfire Appeal

    AKR is a not-for-profit organisation and registered charity. Donated funds are used for veterinary bills including medication, formula and nutritional supplements for hand-raised joeys and koalas in rehab, essential equipment and veterinary supplies including bandages and burns dressings.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/adelaide-koala-rescue-saving-sa039s-koalas?

  • Adelaide Hills Wine Region Appeal

    Donations will support the recovery efforts of the region in the coming months.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/adelaide-hills-wine-region-fire-appeal?

  • State Emergency Relief Fund

    This government recovery fund will collect donations and distribute them to those affected by the fires

    Donate here: https://dhs.sa.gov.au/services/disaster-recovery/accordion-11

  • Save the Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo

    The Kangaroo Island glossy black-cockatoo has lost 50% of its habitat over the past week. The habitat lost supported 70% of the glossies on the island. Money raised will be managed by the Nature Foundation SA, which funds the Kangaroo Island Glossy Black-Cockatoo Recovery Program. 

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/g3en5?

QUEENSLAND

  • Queensland Fire and Rescue

    Queensland’s Fire and Rescue request cash donations through GIVIT where the funds received will be used to purchase essential items.

    Donate here: http://www.givit.org.au/donate-funds

NATIONAL

  • Vinnies Bushfire Appeal

    Vinnies is a registered charity. Donations go towards food, basic essentials and getting families with damaged or destroyed homes back on their feet providing bedding and furniture. Funds will be directed to bushfire relief in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, TAS and VIC.

    Donate here: https://donate.vinnies.org.au/appeals-nsw/vinnies-nsw-bushfire-appeal-nsw 

  • Help Beekeepers Affected by Fire

    Save the Bees is raising money to try and get beekeepers affected from the bushfires back on their feet. Eventually beekeepers will be crucial to regenerate what has been lost through pollination.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-beekeepers-affected-by-fire

  • Blazeaid

    Blazeaid is a volunteer organisation. Your donation goes towards helping families in rural Australia affected by the devastation of natural disasters including bushfires.

    Donate here: https://blazeaid.com.au/donations/how-donate/

  • WWF Bushfire Emergency

    WWF will use the funds to care for injured or orphaned wildlife, and when the fires have cleared, restore the lost forest homes our koalas and other animals have lost.

    Donate here: https://www.wwf.org.au/get-involved/bushfire-emergency

  • Australian Red Cross Disaster Response and Recovery Fund

    The Australia Red Cross fund helps recovery programs and emergency assistance in communities affected by the bushfires in all states, as well as training, equipment, logistics and coordination of the volunteers.

    Donate here: https://www.redcross.org.au/campaigns/disaster-relief-and-recovery-donate

  • Salvation Army Disaster Appeal

    Salvation Army provide meals to first-line responders and evacuees and will continue to provide any support when it is needed as the situation develops.

    Donate here: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/donate/make-a-donation/donate-online/?appeal=disasterappeal

  • Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities

    Many First Nations people's have been affected by the bushfires with losses of homes/ severe damage to property and important parts of the landscape. Many of these communities have been forced to evacuate the region's of their homes and forced to seek temporary/ongoing living arrangements in other parts of Victoria and NSW. Funds raised directly assist First Nations communities and their needs.

    Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/fire-relief-fund-for-first-nations-communities?

  • Foodbank

    Foodbank is delivering emergency food relief and water to affected areas, helping firefighters and local communities caught up in the bushfires.

    Donate here: https://www.foodbank.org.au/

LONG TERM CLIMATE SOLUTIONS

  • Climate Council

    The Climate Council is 100% independent and community-funded. Contributing is one of the best ways you can push for climate change action and take on the biggest issue of our generation.

    Get involved: https://www.climatecouncil.org.au/get-involved/

  • Find out whether your bank is investing in fossil fuels

    Australia’s big banks continue to play a critical role in supporting the dirty fossil industry that are damaging the environment and driving climate change. But as customers we have the power to make a difference. If your bank is one of those banks tell them if they continue to choose fossil fuels, you’ll choose another bank. You can then use the bank comparison table to find a bank that better aligns with your values. The table lists over 120 other banks and credit unions along with their positions on lending to fossil fuels. Make the switch and tell the banks why.

    Compare banks here: https://www.marketforces.org.au/info/compare-bank-table/

    How to switch banks here: https://www.marketforces.org.au/info/switch-banks/

  • Bob Brown Foundation

    The Bob Brown Foundation is all about action with a vision to protect Australia's wild and scenic natural places of ecological and global significance.

    Donate here: https://www.bobbrown.org.au/donate

  • Australian Conservation Foundation

    Your donation will help to create a world where forests, rivers, people and wildlife thrive – now and for future generations.

    Support or donate here: https://support.acf.org.au/donate

  • Stop Adani

    Right now, Adani is itching to dig one of the biggest coal mines in the world in Queensland’s Galilee Basin. If it goes ahead, Adani’s mine and its coal will wreck our climate, steal our groundwater, trash Indigenous rights and irreversibly damage the Great Barrier Reef.

    Support here: https://support.acf.org.au/donate_campaign_stop_adani

  • Fight for the Bight

    The Great Australian Bight is where majestic whales go every year to feed, play and raise their young. It has the highest concentration of dolphins anywhere in the world. And 85% of the animal, fish and plant species in the Bight aren’t found anywhere else. Oil giant Equinor has released their so-called Environmental Plan, the next step in the process to starting risky oil drilling in the Great Australian Bight. You can do your bit to ensure the bight is protected.

    Support or donate here: https://www.fightforthebight.org.au/

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You’ve donated but still feel helpless, here are some great tips

  1. Share the news, share what others are doing for the cause and where people can donate. Share, share, share and don’t stop. People will get fatigued seeing the news but we must continue to support the cause as it will be a long road to recovery even after the fires stop.

  2. Send a letter to your local MP. If you're upset about the bushfires in Australia, & feel the government isn't taking enough action send this letter drafted by @annarose_richards below. Download and edit the letter to include your details and send it to your local MP. https://www.dropbox.com/s/n83tlcdjtqpmtxr/MP%20Letter%20of%20Environmental%20Concern.docx?dl=0

  3. Attend protests.

  4. Give blood.

  5. Sew items for the wildlife to use in shelters.

  6. Volunteer to plant trees, help the wildlife, communities etc.

  7. Pack Red Cross emergency kits.

    Other small changes…

  8. Shop small and shop locally.

  9. Holiday in your country.

  10. Reduce your meat and dairy intake.

  11. Take along your reusable cups and take-away containers, refuse single use coffee cups and containers.

  12. Shop in-season product.

  13. Refuse pre-packaged fruit and vegetables, it’s unnecessary!

  14. Compost.

  15. Be a conscious consumer. Refuse fast-fashion/mass produced items.

Please comment below if I need to add any other charities and organisations to the list. Also share this post locally and internationally to spread the word to the wider community.

Lei xx

InspirationLei Lei ClaveyAustralian bushfires, AustraliaComment