Monetary donations can often be one of the most useful ways to help services like charities, fire brigades and animal rescue.
Image: Supplied: Red Cross Australia
At Life Without Barriers, we are devastated by the Australian bushfire emergency and we would like to extend our thoughts to everyone impacted. Many of the communities we work in have been affected and we are working hard to keep the people we support and our staff in these areas safe.
We are also thinking about the role we will play with the recovery in the coming months and years.
How can I help?
The situation has left many people asking “how can I help?” Organisations working in the crisis say the best way to help right now is to donate money, rather than goods. This helps affected communities recover sooner.
Recommended organisations and charities
Australian Red Cross Fire Appeal: The Red Cross supports a variety of efforts such as supporting people at evacuation centres and providing emergency assistance, like cash grants, to people who have lost their homes .
Your local fire service:
Victoria: CFA donate
NSW: NSW RFS donate
South Australia: CFS donate
Queensland: RFBAQ donate
Tasmania: SES donate
Western Australia: DFES donate
Wildlife Victoria: Donations to this bushfire appeal will be distributed to wildlife shelters and carers to help rebuild enclosures and equipment that they have lost in the fires and support those that are struggling to cope with the enormous number of animals that will need care in the coming weeks and months.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal: The Victorian Government teamed up with The Salvation Army and Bendigo Bank for the appeal, with all funds going to communities in need.
The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital: The organisation has a GoFundMe page that seeks funding for Koalas affected by the bushfires.
WIRES: NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) rescues and cares for animals and is seeking donations for volunteer carers and rescuers that are “inundated” with them amid the bushfires .
Disaster relief funding is available
If you have been affected by the bushfires in disaster-declared areas, you may be eligible for financial support from the government. Visit the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) website for information
