For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
- The Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service has established a ‘South Coast Fires Indigenous Response’ page to coordinate efforts in southern New South Wales. Access their page here.
- The Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) have launched an extensive bushfire recovery program that will provide state-wide case management to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members impacted by the bushfires. You can make a request for support here.
- The National Indigenous Australians Agency has compiled a list of support available to bushfire affected communities, including information relevant to cashless debit card participants and Registered Indigenous Corporations. Access the resource here.
- The Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) has established a central bushfire fund to provide relief for the Aboriginal community in Victoria. You can donate to the fund here.
- Yorta Yorta man Neil Morris has organised a fire relief fund specific for First Nations Communities. You can donate to the fund here.
- Firesticks Alliance are asking for support to empower Traditional Custodians across Australia to fulfill their cultural obligation to care for country through cultural fire. You can support their work here.
For people with disability
- People with Disability Australia (PWDA) have compiled an extensive list of resources for disabled people including information about advocacy, aids & equipment, air quality, blackouts and electricity, accommodation, financial help and more. Access the resources here.
- Disability Services Consulting has put together a list of services and resources that can support people with disability through the bushfire season. Access the list and resources here.
- The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has released their disaster response and relevant resources. Access the resources here.
For Women
- The Gender & Disaster Pod, an initiative of Women’s Health Goulburn East (WHGNE), Women’s Health In the North (WHIN) and the Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative (MUDRI) has a range of resource available including two training packages, checklists for disaster prevention agencies, issues ‘snapshots’ and postcards, and a best practice case study. Access the resources here.
- The National Women’s Alliances have released a list of policy recommendations for disaster recovery for women, their families and their communities in all their diversity. Access the recommendations here.
- Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS) has compiled extensive resources for community workers and for individuals responding to the bushfire crisis with a gender lens. Resources including a checklist to keep women and children safe after natural disasters and how to ask whether someone is experiencing violence during a disaster are listed. Access the list of resources here.
For culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities
- Harmony Alliance have compiled in-language fire safety information for a wide range of communities.
- NSW Fire and Rescue has a range of translated material, and the Victorian Country Fire Service (CFS) also publishes other translated resources on home fire safety and related issues, available here.
- The Victorian Department of Health and Human Services have also translated a number of factsheets on health conditions surrounding bushfires, available here.
General Resources
- Find A Bed are helping provide accommodation for those who have been impacted by the bushfire crisis. You can ask for a bed or offer a bed here.
- The NSW Council of Social Services (NCOSS) have put together a bushfire relief assistance resource, listing a number of supports available to individuals and communities impacted by the current bushfire crisis in NSW. Access the resource available here.
- The Australian National University (ANU) have released a factsheet on how to protect yourself and others from bushfire smoke. Access the factsheet here.
- The Australian Psychological Society have compiled some useful information on psychological preparation and recovery. Access the resources here.
- The Law Council of Australia have released resources for those seeking legal assistance during the bushfire crisis. Access the resources here.
- The Sector Early Education News, Views & Reviews have released bushfire hints and tips specific to supporting children, community and educators. Access the resources here.
- James Findlay, who lost his family home in Bateman’s Bay on New Year’s Eve, has written a helpful guide on what to say to someone who’s lost their homes in the bushfires. Read the article here.
- Ask Izzy have compiled a comprehensive list of supports and services for those impacted by the bushfires, available here.
- Infoxchange and Telstra have teamed up to provide the Telstra Top-Up program, providing a free $30 recharge to those who are experiencing homelessness, family violence or impacted by natural disaster. Access the program here.