Donate to Your Local Rural Fire Service
We are dealing with catastrophic fire conditions in many areas around Australia. Scientists and experts warn that Australia's fire season is now longer and more intense due to the climate change emergency, so sadly we can only expect these kind of events to continue. Your local rural fire service needs your support now more than ever. If you are in a position to donate, contact your local fire brigade direct or support one of their community fundraisers if you see them out and about. Here are the contacts for each State service: New South Wales Rural Fire Service here > Victoria's Country Fire Authority here > South Australia's Country Fire Service here > Rural Fire Brigade Association Queensland here > Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades (WA) here >Support the RSPCA & other animal rescue groups
Animals in Australia have been struggling for some time due to lack of food and water due to the drought. Fires have since destroyed unprecedented amounts of habitat, and as such food, water and shelter will become even more difficult to source. This will remain a significant long-term challenge for surviving wildlife. University of Sydney ecologist Chris Dickman has said the number of animals killed in the bushfires since September 2019 has topped one billion. He also said this was a conservative estimate. Read more about that here > For information about how to help animals during the current bushfire crisis, refer to the Australian RSPCA website > The RSPCA has launched appeals in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia (including Kangaroo Island) to help rescue and care for animals affected by the fires. You can also consider donating to: New South Wales Victoria South Australia- Fauna Rescue South Australia
- Save the Kangaroo Island Dunnart from extinction
- Support the Kangaroo Island Glossy Black Cockatoo
- Wildcare South-East Qld
- Koala Rescue QLD
- Wildlife Volunteers Association Inc, Sunshine Coast
- Granite Belt Wildlife Carers
- Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Support Koala Rescue Projects
It is estimated that one third of Australia's koala habitat has been destroyed by the ongoing bushfires. Below are some ways you can help.
A volunteer searches burnt bushland south of Port Macquarie for injured koalas and wildlife. Credit: Nick Moir, The Sydney Morning Herald.
Report sick, injured or orphaned koalas to your nearest wildlife shelter. If you are in New South Wales find a koala conservation group near you here > In Queensland, call 1300 ANIMAL (1300 264 625). In Victoria, call 136 186 for contact details of wildlife rehabilitation organisations in your area. In South Australia, phone the Fauna Rescue Koala Hotline on 1300 KOALAS (1300 562 527). The South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (SAVEM) has been activated to manage the wildlife rescue effort and is working with other groups in fire-affected regions. They ask that anyone on Kangaroo Island who finds injured wildlife call SAVEM on 0477 055 233 or email info@savem.org.au. The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has raised more than $5 million for koalas and other wildlife in that area. They had initially aimed to purchase and distribute automatic drinking stations in the burnt areas to help remaining koala and wildlife survive. They are now sharing funds with other wildlife organisations in fire affected regions of New south Wales. You can support their efforts here > Biome donates all proceeds from our in-store gift wrapping initiative to koala protection groups in Queensland. We recently passed on $2,460 to the Queensland Koala Crusaders. This money will be put towards purchasing land to create a sanctuary where injured koalas that can not be returned to the wild can still live free.Support Foodbank
Foodbank is playing a crucial role in the current unprecedented bushfire crisis devastating communities around Australia. For every $1 donated, Foodbank are able to provide $2 meals to affected communities thanks to their partnership with the food and grocery sector. You can donate money or food and groceries to Foodbank here >Support Greening Australia's Reef Aid Program
To offset the environmental impact of sending a Biome parcel, we give to Greening Australia’s Reef Aid. After climate change, poor water quality is the greatest local threat to the future of the Great Barrier Reef. Every year, millions of tonnes of fine sediment flow from eroding land, choking fish and coral, creating algal blooms, feeding crown-of-thorns starfish and reducing the reef's ability to recover from the impacts of climate change. Exacerbating the problem is the loss of over 50 per cent of our coastal wetlands which act like giant kidneys helping to filter the water before it enters the reef. To help stop sediment at its source, Greening Australia works with local landholders to rebuild eroding gullies and restore vital coastal wetlands. Our incredible Biome community supports this initiative every time you shop with us. You can learn more about Greening Australia's Reef Aid Program here >
Give to the Salvation Army
The Salvation Army supports Australian communities in the midst of natural disasters as well as during the long recovery periods afterwards. They provide meals and emotional support to evacuees and frontline responders and are ready to provide support in other ways as disasters unfold too. You can donate to the Salvation Army Disaster Appeal here >Donate Items to People in Need Through Givit
If you are not in a position to donate money, but do have useful household items available, you might like to consider donating them to a person, family or community in need through Givit. Items donated through Givit will help those affected by bushfires, drought, or who are experiencing financial hardship. To see items needed visit Givit here >Support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation
The Indigenous Literacy Foundation aims to raise literacy levels in very remote indigenous communities through their Community Literacy Projects. Literacy levels in these communities are significantly lower than literacy levels in major cities. Working with more than 30 generous publishers, the foundation gifts culturally relevant books to schools, libraries, playgroups, women's centres, youth centres and other service organisations, opening the doors to a world of opportunities and learning.
Many of these books are created by Indigenous authors and illustrators, and they are published in a range of Aboriginal languages, from Walmajarri in the Kimberley region, to Arabana in South Australia, to Kriol in the Katherine region. You can support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation here >
Give Blood through the Australian Red Cross
This selfless act takes such a short amount of your time, and may end up saving the lives of many. And seriously, this is an amazing message to receive:
Book your appointment to give blood through the Australian Red Cross here > You can also support the Red Cross Disaster Relief & Recovery here >
Participate in a Community Beach Clean Up
Support your community clean up organisation to help remove litter from our environment, water ways and beaches. Surfrider, Take3ForTheSea, Keep Australia Beautiful and Clean Up Australia are all great charities to support. Another way to support these clean ups is to avoid single use plastics. Carry a reusable water bottle, pick up takeaway in a reusable container, switch to a reusable coffee cup, opt for a reusable shopping bag and decline a plastic straw. Watch our IGTV episode for more ideas:View this post on Instagram
