How can I help?
There are many ways that you can support individuals, families and organisations affected by natural disasters, such as bushfires or floods. You can:
Donate money
Registered charities are trained to respond to the needs of communities hit by natural disasters and can provide food, equipment, shelter, and other support right where it is needed.
If you wish to give to a charity raising funds to assist regions affected, please consider giving a monetary donation online or by phone. Leading charities raising funds to help communities include:
- Australian Red Cross Society
- The Salvation Army — 13 SALVOS (13 72 58)
- St Vincent de Paul Society Queensland — 07 3010 1002
- UnitingCare — 1800 411 660
Donate goods and services
Public donations
If you have goods or funds you would like to donate, or want to see what is needed in the disaster affected communities, visit GIVIT where you can donate items directly to affected individuals, families and communities. GIVIT is an online service that lets you see what is needed and urgently required in your community and connects you to trusted charities.
Alternatively, you may want to get in touch with a charity directly. Contact your local council for more information about charities and community organisations in your area.
Corporate donations of goods and services
For business and corporate organisations wanting to donate, GIVIT will seek to broker an offer to a particular need. This can be undertaken through GIVIT.
Volunteer
The best way you can help is to check on the safety of your loved ones, neighbours and friends and help them however you can.
If you are interested in volunteering your time to assist communities affected by a disaster, you can register or update your details at Emergency Volunteering. Or calling Volunteering Queensland on the free phone number 1800 994 100.
Whether you volunteer on the frontline or behind the scenes, you can help Queenslanders and communities most in need.
Learn tips for volunteering after a disaster.
Other ways to help charities
If you are not in a position to make a cash donation, there are a number of ways you may be able to assist, such as:
- linking up with a local charity and assisting with their fundraising campaigns
- holding a social event with your friends to donate proceeds to a charity
- holding a garage sale and donating proceeds to a charity.
Local charities will gladly accept funds raised to assist those affected by natural disasters.
Offer your services for a fee
If you are a licensed contractor wanting to accept work from consumers affected by natural disasters, you should register with the Queensland Building and Construction Commission's Find a Local Contractor directory. This directory helps home owners to locate and contact licensed contractors in their local area.
You can only register for this if you are also registered with QBCC Online Services. You can do this at the QBCC website or by phoning the QBCC for assistance on 1300 272 272.