Aussie Bushfires: Feeling helpless? Here’s 10 Ways You Can Help

We've all seen the images and read the news, and just like you, we're feeling horrified and overwhelmed as our beautiful natural environment and native wildlife are vanishing before our eyes. 

The Australian bushfires have scorched millions of acres of land, much more than the Amazon and Californian fires combined, with a horrifying one BILLION animals killed since November.

As an Australian brand, we feel SO PROUD to be part of a community that has pulled together to affirm our common humanity and protect our earth and animals!

However, in the midst of such heartbreaking events, it can be easy to feel helpless as an individual. But, there’s actually a lot you can do!

From providing assistance to our rural fireys to supporting wildlife carers in affected areas, here’s how you can offer your help in Australia’s bushfire crisis from anywhere in the world.

Note: Any donations above $2 made to charities registered by the ATO are tax-deductible.

1. Donate to the Rural Firefighters

Firefighters and community workers in rural fire brigades are in the thick of this disaster and your donations support them in delivering additional services to the community. Monetary donations are preferred, as teams are unable to distribute food and goods at this time. 

2. WIRES

The NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Information Service rescue and care for wildlife. Your donations will assist in medical supplies, veterinary care and supporting volunteer carers to care for native animals like koalas, wallabies and wombats, from areas affected by drought and bushfire, and supporting volunteer carers who have been inundated with injured wildlife.

3. Port Macquarie Koala Hospital

Staff at this Koala refuge have spent weeks searching for koalas following the devastating fires in the Port Macquarie area. 

The organisation is raising money to install automatic wildlife drinking stations in the burnt areas, and to implement a koala breeding program.  

4. Salvation Army Disaster Appeal (SAES)

SAES teams have been activated at multiple locations, providing meals and support to evacuees and frontline responders.

5. St Vincent de Paul Society Bushfire Appeal (NSW)

Vinnies’ bushfire appeal helps provide food, clothing, and monetary assistance to victims of the bushfire crisis.

6. Victorian Bushfire Appeal

The Victorian Government has partnered with Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army to establish the Victorian Bushfire Appeal. 100% of donated funds will go directly to communities in need.

7. The Animal Rescue Craft Guild

Brisbane based wildlife rescue organisation, The Animal Rescue Collective, have created a Craft Guild and are calling upon any avid knitters and sewers to join them in making bedding and make-shift homes for displaced and injured wildlife.

Patterns, handy hints, and delivery information can be found on their Facebook group here.

8. Spend With Them

Co-founded by Aussie legend, Turia Pitt, @spendwiththem features products you can buy online from businesses in fire-affected towns across Australia as a way to put money directly in the pockets of the people and communities who need it the most.

Long after the threat is over, they’ll need your support to help them rebuild.

9. Provide Water or Temporary Protection

Leave out bowls of water for animals and birds escaping fires, use shallow bowls with a few sticks or stones on one side to allow smaller animals to escape if they fall in.

10. Reduce Your Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Climate change caused by increased greenhouse emission has supercharged the bushfire problem, but fortunately, there are many steps you can take as an individual to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions

So, if you're looking for more long-term solutions, there are plenty of new behaviours you can put into action for 2020 and beyond, including:

• Reuse, reduce, recycle

• Forgo the dryer in favour of a washing rack or line

• Walk, cycle or use public transport instead of driving

• Minimise your electricity usage and switch off lights and appliances when not needed

• Cut down your consumption of meat - why not try meat free Monday? Or keep meat to just your dinner time instead of multiple meals per day

• Plant trees

• Keep a bucket in your shower - and use the bucket to water plants rather than using fresh water