How to Help People and Wildlife Affected by Bushfires
Want to donate to those affected by bushfires? These groups assist people and wildlife that have been hit the hardest
Julie Sheer
17 January 2020
Houzz Contributor; journalist with more than two decades of experience as a graphics editor and writer at the Los Angeles Times and Chicago Tribune; outdoor guidebook author; lover of all things outdoors, nature and wildlife. Follow me at https://westcentric.wordpress.com/
Houzz Contributor; journalist with more than two decades of experience as a graphics... More
Hundreds of bushfires in Australia that began in September 2019 have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 2,100 homes so far. More than 15 million acres have burnt, mostly in the south-eastern states of NSW and Victoria, regions that have seen years of devastating drought. Native wildlife has been hit particularly hard. More than one billion animals have perished, according to many estimates, with fears that some species have been pushed to extinction.
Satellite image of the fires and smoke billowing off the coast of south-eastern Australia on 1 January 2020. Image taken by NOAA-NASA’s Suomi NPP satellite.
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Crosss teams have been responding to the recent bushfires with teams of volunteers and staff supporting thousands of evacuees. Donations help fund recovery and emergency assistance to disaster victims. More info
Country Fire Authority
The Country Fire Authority, a volunteer community-based fire and emergency services organisation in Victoria, is taking donations specifically in relation to the fires as well as donations to the Victorian Disaster Appeal fund. More info
Australian Red Cross
The Australian Red Crosss teams have been responding to the recent bushfires with teams of volunteers and staff supporting thousands of evacuees. Donations help fund recovery and emergency assistance to disaster victims. More info
Country Fire Authority
The Country Fire Authority, a volunteer community-based fire and emergency services organisation in Victoria, is taking donations specifically in relation to the fires as well as donations to the Victorian Disaster Appeal fund. More info
Country Fire Service Foundation
The Country Fire Service Foundation provides financial help to volunteer firefighters and their families who’ve lost family members or property in the bushfires. More info
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid group that provides medical support during disasters. Its Australian staff work with local authorities and residents affected by the fires, delivering emergency medical supplies, including thousands of N-95 masks, which are designed to prevent tiny particles from getting into lungs and airways. More info
Givit
Givit is a non-profit group that supports Australian agencies by connecting donors with those in need. Online monetary donations will be used to purchase essential items for fire victims. More info
The Country Fire Service Foundation provides financial help to volunteer firefighters and their families who’ve lost family members or property in the bushfires. More info
Direct Relief
Direct Relief is a humanitarian aid group that provides medical support during disasters. Its Australian staff work with local authorities and residents affected by the fires, delivering emergency medical supplies, including thousands of N-95 masks, which are designed to prevent tiny particles from getting into lungs and airways. More info
Givit
Givit is a non-profit group that supports Australian agencies by connecting donors with those in need. Online monetary donations will be used to purchase essential items for fire victims. More info
GlobalGiving
GlobalGiving connects non-profits, donors and companies around the world. It has established the Australian Wildfire Relief Fund to support recovery and relief efforts for Australians affected by the bushfires. Donations will help first responders see to victims’ needs for food, fuel, water and shelter, and will transition to support longer-term recovery. More info
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is an online fundraising platform that has several campaigns taking donations to help individuals, communities and wildlife affected by the bushfires. More info
GlobalGiving connects non-profits, donors and companies around the world. It has established the Australian Wildfire Relief Fund to support recovery and relief efforts for Australians affected by the bushfires. Donations will help first responders see to victims’ needs for food, fuel, water and shelter, and will transition to support longer-term recovery. More info
GoFundMe
GoFundMe is an online fundraising platform that has several campaigns taking donations to help individuals, communities and wildlife affected by the bushfires. More info
Bushfire smoke in NSW on 6 December 2019. Image by VirtualWolf via Flickr.
International Fund for Animal Welfare
The International Fund for Animal Welfare focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating wild and domestic animals. It is taking donations online to help feed wildlife and support veterinary care for animals affected by the bushfires. More info
NSW Rural Fire Service
The NSW Rural Fire Service is a fire agency that has set up bank accounts to help the families of volunteer firefighters who have been killed while on duty this fire season. More info
International Fund for Animal Welfare
The International Fund for Animal Welfare focuses on rescuing and rehabilitating wild and domestic animals. It is taking donations online to help feed wildlife and support veterinary care for animals affected by the bushfires. More info
NSW Rural Fire Service
The NSW Rural Fire Service is a fire agency that has set up bank accounts to help the families of volunteer firefighters who have been killed while on duty this fire season. More info
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital
The NSW-based Port Macquarie Koala Hospital’s GoFundMe account is raising money to build and deploy drinking stations for koalas affected by the fires. In addition, funds will go to the Wildlife Water Drinking Stations project and to help establish the Wild Koala Breeding Program after the fires. More info
Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland
The all-volunteer Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland is supported by grants and donations. Online donations provide services, tools and resources for Queensland’s fire brigades. More info
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army teams have been deployed in multiple areas devastated by the bushfires, providing meals and support to evacuees and first responders. Donations support workers on-site during the disasters and while communities recover. More info
The NSW-based Port Macquarie Koala Hospital’s GoFundMe account is raising money to build and deploy drinking stations for koalas affected by the fires. In addition, funds will go to the Wildlife Water Drinking Stations project and to help establish the Wild Koala Breeding Program after the fires. More info
Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland
The all-volunteer Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland is supported by grants and donations. Online donations provide services, tools and resources for Queensland’s fire brigades. More info
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army teams have been deployed in multiple areas devastated by the bushfires, providing meals and support to evacuees and first responders. Donations support workers on-site during the disasters and while communities recover. More info
Save the Children
Save the Children is an organisation that supports children during disasters by providing child-friendly safe spaces, giving parents the chance to access support, recover possessions and begin to recover otherwise. After the bushfires have passed, donations to the group will help it continue to work with affected children for months to come. More info
St Vincent de Paul Society
St Vincent de Paul Society’s workers are on-site providing immediate support to bushfire survivors. Donations help them provide food, clothing and other essential items. More info
Save the Children is an organisation that supports children during disasters by providing child-friendly safe spaces, giving parents the chance to access support, recover possessions and begin to recover otherwise. After the bushfires have passed, donations to the group will help it continue to work with affected children for months to come. More info
St Vincent de Paul Society
St Vincent de Paul Society’s workers are on-site providing immediate support to bushfire survivors. Donations help them provide food, clothing and other essential items. More info
Victorian Bushfire Appeal
The state of Victoria has partnered with a local bank and The Salvation Army to establish the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, a fund to support communities affected by the fires. It is accepting donations through the Community Enterprise Foundation. Funds will be used to provide direct relief and recovery in fire-affected areas. More info
WIRES
The New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation. It’s taking donations online and via Facebook to help rescue and care for native animals affected by the bushfires. The group says its volunteers attended more than 3,300 rescues during the fires in December 2019. More info
The state of Victoria has partnered with a local bank and The Salvation Army to establish the Victorian Bushfire Appeal, a fund to support communities affected by the fires. It is accepting donations through the Community Enterprise Foundation. Funds will be used to provide direct relief and recovery in fire-affected areas. More info
WIRES
The New South Wales Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES), is Australia’s largest wildlife rescue organisation. It’s taking donations online and via Facebook to help rescue and care for native animals affected by the bushfires. The group says its volunteers attended more than 3,300 rescues during the fires in December 2019. More info
Satellite image of smoke from bushfires north-west of Sydney in November 2019. Image courtesy of the European Space Agency, via Flickr.
World Vets
World Vets is a USA-based international veterinary aid organisation that brings veterinary services to underserved areas of the world and provides training, education and disaster-response services. Its Australian team is assisting local vets with injured wildlife, livestock and domestic animals. The group has set up an emergency fund; donations will fund purchases of veterinary supplies such as burn creams, fluids, pain medications and bandages. More info
Zoos Victoria
Zoos Victoria is a non-profit organisation that’s raising money through its Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund. It’s collaborating with Australia’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to determine how to effectively use the funds to assist animals and their habitat affected by the fires. Donations will fund emergency veterinary care and post-fire feeding efforts to help surviving animals whose habitats were destroyed. More info
World Vets
World Vets is a USA-based international veterinary aid organisation that brings veterinary services to underserved areas of the world and provides training, education and disaster-response services. Its Australian team is assisting local vets with injured wildlife, livestock and domestic animals. The group has set up an emergency fund; donations will fund purchases of veterinary supplies such as burn creams, fluids, pain medications and bandages. More info
Zoos Victoria
Zoos Victoria is a non-profit organisation that’s raising money through its Bushfire Emergency Wildlife Fund. It’s collaborating with Australia’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to determine how to effectively use the funds to assist animals and their habitat affected by the fires. Donations will fund emergency veterinary care and post-fire feeding efforts to help surviving animals whose habitats were destroyed. More info
These are just some of the groups providing assistance to victims of the fires. Always use caution when donating money to any cause. Charity Navigator evaluates and rates charitable groups, and the Australian government’s Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission has a charity register.
Your turn
Have you been affected by the bushfires or know someone who has? Tell us practical ways people can help, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Have you heard about Architects Assist? Find out about the free design and planning service for people whose homes have been lost – Rebuilding Lives: Architects Offer Free Aid to Bushfire Victims
Have you been affected by the bushfires or know someone who has? Tell us practical ways people can help, like and share this story, and join the conversation.
More
Have you heard about Architects Assist? Find out about the free design and planning service for people whose homes have been lost – Rebuilding Lives: Architects Offer Free Aid to Bushfire Victims
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Hi clapp53. You can post the story on Facebook by copying and pasting the URL into a post. Thank you!
Thanks for the information, but you said nothing about the South Australian or Western Australian relief contacts, seeing they had major fires too.
Give service not money. Red Cross and Salvation Army have large administrative fees deducted from your donations. We lost our vet practice and we haven’t seen a cent of funding.