In the wake of the fires that are engulfing and continuing to threaten so many parts of the country, many of our members have been providing services and assistance to those affected. Below are some stories of their work and services of support.

What our members are doing…

Anglicare NSW South, NSW West & ACT are accepting food donations to help families with immediate needs. As well as monetary donations to be used to provide extra support to existing services and to create pathways for long-term recovery through important services such as trauma counselling. Find out more here.

AnglicareSA’s Thread Together team have been delivering new clothes in their ‘mobile wardrobe’ vans out in bushfire affected areas in South Australia. Find out more.

Anglicare Sydney is supporting the Government and other agencies in planning and preparation for natural disasters and responding through a range of supports and services in Evacuation Centres across NSW. Including counselling, supports for people experiencing mental health issues, post-trauma support, providing free clothing, household items, Food and Financial Assistance centres, family support and youth services.

They are also offering free face to face, telephone or Skype counselling for adults and children impacted by bushfires. As well as raising funds to support their immediate emergency relief activities as well as the work to be done in the longer-term recovery effort. Click here to find out more.

Anglicare Victoria have put together tips for helping children deal with natural disasters. They are also collecting donations for emergency relief to help those affected by the bushfires at
anglicarevic.org.au/donation/bushfireappeal or call 1800 809 722.

Belconnen Community Service launched bushfire appeal in support of the Capital Region. BCS nominated itself as a collection point in Belconnen, ACT for bushfire donations on 2 January. The response to the appeal has been remarkable; BCS’s Youth Centre lobby was filled with the donations that were received in just a matter of days. Read more.

Better Place Australia have a couples and family counsellor available to provide a free service based initially out of their Traralgon office and  financial counsellor in the Gippsland region who can assist with face to face appointments. Call: 1800 639 523

CatholicCare Wollongong are providing free trauma counselling to support people affected by the bushfires. To talk to a trauma counsellor over the phone or book a face-to-face meeting, phone 02 42 549 395 (lines are open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm) or email intakeservices@catholiccare.dow.org.au.

Catholic Social Services Australia is working with their members’, staff and volunteers from the national network of Catholic social service agencies, to mobilise and help communities recover and rebuild from the current bushfire crisis.

Lutheran Community Care responded to the Cudlee Creek bushfire by providing a significant number of hampers filled with food, toys and hygiene packs to people affected by this disaster just before Christmas.Their focus has now turned to providing practical and long-lasting support through a range of services including personal and financial counselling. LCC are running a bushfire appeal to continue supporting South Australians in crisis.

Pronia’s bushfire appeal is raising money to be donated to the Community Enterprise Foundation a Victorian Government initiative that has partnered with the Bendigo Bank and The Salvation Army.

Relationships Australia NSW are offering free counselling via phone, online or in person for anyone affected by the bushfires. Call: 1300 364 277

Relationships Australia Victoria offering residents in East Gippsland and Wellington access free counselling, available at their centres in Traralgon and Bairnsdale and via telephone and video-conferencing. Call 03 5175 9500 to find out more or make an appointment. Find out more here.

Relationships Australia Canberra & Region have put together a video with tips on how to prepare for your own response to bushfires.

Save the Children are scaling up their Child Friendly Spaces in all accessible evacuation and recovery centres in fire-affected communities. The Child Friendly Space are places where they can process their experiences in a safe, supported environment.

They have helped over 400 children affected by the fires in NSW and VIC through our Child Friendly Spaces in Albury, Bega, Wagga Wagga, Morwell, Bairnsdale and Wangaratta, with more spaces set to open in the coming days and weeks. Watch their video here.

Uniting Communities has made the U City Accessible Serviced Apartments in Adelaide’s CBD available at no charge for people requiring temporary accommodation during this devastating period. Read more.