Australian bushfires: How you can help
Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images
Australia is in the midst of a bushfire crisis. Much of the south-east of the country is on fire, with no clear end in sight. The amount of devastation so far is overwhelming.
It’s estimated more than a billion mammals, birds and reptiles have been lost since September. Around 6 million hectares of land has burnt so far.
More than 250 million tonnes of carbon dioxide has been emitted, almost half of Australia’s annual emissions.
Feeling helpless too? There are many things we can all do to help.
Donate
Donating money is the best, most helpful option for anyone wanting to contribute to bushfire relief. Whether you’d like to support animal rehabilitation, helping evacuees or the firefighters on the frontline, it’s all so needed and will go directly to those causes.
Here are some organisations dedicated to supporting people and animals through the bushfire crisis.
Animal RESCUE organisations
WIRES - wildlife rescue in NSW.
RSPCA - bushfire appeal for funds and check out their wish list of items needed to support animal welfare, such as possum boxes.
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital - funds help rescued koalas and the planting of koala food trees and habitat. You can also donate via their GoFundMe page.
1300Koalaz - Adelaide and Hills koala rescue and rehabilitation.
Photograph: David Mariuz/AAP
Frontline fire brigades
New South Wales Rural Fire Service
Victoria's Country Fire Authority
South Australia's Country Fire Service
Humanitarian aid organisations
Salvation Army - If you are outside Australia, head here to donate.
Victoria Bushfire Disaster Appeal
Fire Relief Fund for First Nations Communities
Givit - Accepting funds and items. If you live close enough to bushfire affected areas, charity Givit will show you what items are needed and where, such as dog food and kennels, to avoid the donation of unwanted, random items which can hinder efforts.
Foodbank - They’re calling for food donations for people in need, accepting items in Vic, SA, NSW and Qld.
Other ways to help
Open up your home
If you’ve got the space, consider offering emergency housing. Airbnb have set up a booking page for Victoria and one for New South Wales - you can also use both these pages to find free accommodation until 16 January if needed.
Craft for animals
The Animal Rescue Craft Guild is already receiving donations of handmade animal rescue pouches, mittens, wraps, nests, blankets and jumpers from all over the world. They supply patterns for all of these, ready for your craft skills to bring them to life for animals of all shapes and sizes.
Head to their Facebook page to find the latest on what’s needed most and where to post them. Not a crafter but still want to help? You can donate funds directly to the Guild to help cover supplies and postage costs.
People all over the world are using their craft skills to make animal rescue pouches, nests, wraps and more. Image via Animal Rescue Craft Guild Facebook page.
Animal welfare
Some tips to help animals during this time, and the hot summer days:
Whether you are close to a bushfire zone or not, leave some water bowls out in your yard, with sticks and rocks to help smaller animals access it for drinking and to cool off.
If it’s smokey, leave pets inside if possible to limit their exposure to smoke too.
If you come across injured wildlife:
You’re not expected to give first aid. Call a wildlife rescue organisation to report the injured animal, send them your geo location and ideally wait until they arrive. You can find a full list of state-based organisations’ numbers here: https://www.wires.org.au/rescue/interstate-rescues
Consider carrying a cardboard box, blanket or pillow case, gloves and a water bottle in your car to be prepared if you come across injured wildlife.
Give blood
The Red Cross is also calling for people to donate blood. Find out more https://www.donateblood.com.au/.
Write to your MP
Anna Richards (@annarose_richards) has written a great template to help us send a letter to our local MPs, outlining urgent need to act on climate change - and that means legislation. Head here to grab the template - it’ll take you 15 minutes, tops.
Help regenerate
You can volunteer your time and funds to organisations set to work on the regeneration of the land and bush following the fires. Trees For Life in South Australia has a page on how to help, from growing your own seedlings at home, to joining a Bush Action Team.
Check out your local land care, biodiversity groups and even your council to see what tree-planting and regeneration activities they have planned.
You can donate directly to the Carbon Neutral Charitable Fund who plant trees in Australia to help carbon offsetting. Calculate your personal emissions while you’re there!
Conserve water
Drought is playing a major role in Australia’s bushfire crisis. We can all do our bit to conserve water, no matter where you live.
Support businesses donating to relief
Look out for local businesses supporting the bushfire relief through donating profits, part of sales or auctioning for charities - and show you support them too. I’ve seen so many of the smallest businesses donating, from coffee shops to Nico Underwear donating 20% of sales, to Dazed But Amazed auctioning bed linen - to name just a couple.
Consider training
You may not be able to provide more practical help during this season, but there’s nothing stopping you being prepared for future events. Check out what training is offered in your area to become a wildlife carer, a volunteer during and after emergency situations, and even as a volunteer firefighter.
Keep making those shifts
There is no doubt now that this bushfire crisis is linked to climate change. Australia’s Prime Minister has (finally) publicly conceded its role, and the link is backed by major science agencies.
Don’t for a second think that all those little changes we’ve been making to lessen our impact on the planet aren’t worth it when disasters like these strike.
Now more than ever we need to keep those shifts coming! What do you want to pledge to do this year? Here are some ideas (with plenty of inspo on this very blog!):
Learn a DIY, whether it be something in the kitchen (my sister made me corn tortillas from scratch last night!), having a go at making your own deodorant, or getting the sewing machine out. One less thing in packaging compounds over months and years!
Volunteer for something you’re passionate about. Some ideas on my radar this year include volunteering at an op shop, marking tree-planting and clean-up events in my calendar, and getting my dog involved in a kids’ reading charity (and beach clean-ups!).
Do a short course - which might help with the above. I’m planning to do a permaculture course this year to learn more about even just the little things like growing microgreens at home, and I’d love to learn more about caring for wildlife.
Go now and create yourself a BYO kit to have handy when you go anywhere. My tips: grab a bag, add a drink bottle, container, some cutlery, smaller produce bag/s and napkin/ hanky. Add chopsticks and a straw if you’ll use them.
Make a regular donation to an organisation doing work you support.
Make your money do the walking! Switch your superannuation and your everyday banking to organisations that don’t support fossil fuels and other nasties like firearms and tobacco.
Share what you’re doing! Talk about these things with your friends and mates, share pics on social media - the more we know about these cool shifts, the more good can spread!
Ash.
Post thumbnail image via WIRES Instagram.