As most of you would know, entering the new year is usually filled with anticipation and a chance to both reflect and prepare for the year ahead. But for those of us in Australia, we are anxiously awaiting updates as the bushfires spread across the country.
Since August, it has been an incredibly difficult time for many people who have been affected, both directly and indirectly by the bushfire crisis. The scale of this disaster is immense, and the impact is being felt in communities around Australia.
On behalf of the TaylorCare team we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services workers, defence personnel, volunteers, trauma support services, logistics staff and others who are working tirelessly to provide assistance to the thousands of people in need of help.
We are also thinking of those who remain in the grip of drought and the thousands in North Queensland who are still recovering after last year’s floods.
The bushfire season in Australia has burned an estimated six-million hectares of land, destroyed over 2,500 buildings (including over 1,300 houses) and killed at least 22 people.
It is also estimated that at least 480 million mammals, birds, and reptiles have been killed since September with concerns that entire species of plants and animals may have been wiped out.
The Team at TaylorCare are not directly impacted in Sydney but have family and friends who have either lost their house or been evacuated.
In a time like this we can often feel helpless, anxious, frustrated and not know what to do and how we can make a difference. In the midst of this, we have been deeply touched and inspired by how our country has really come together to support one another. The compassion, support, resilience and bravery that has been shown by our people is incredible. Celebrities and influencers are using their platforms to raise money e.g. Celeste Barber’s fundraiser has now raised over $40 million.
If you are wanting to know who to donate to you can contact the following services directly:
AUSTRALIAN RED CROSS
Donate online at redcross.org.au
Donate by phone on 1800 733 276
FOODBANK
Donate online at foodbank.org.au
Donate by phone on (03) 9362 8388
THE SALVATION ARMY
Donate online at salvationarmy.org.au
Donate by phone on 13 72 58
You can also donate directly to Rural Fire Services in each state of Australia:
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/about-us/contact-us
Bushfire emergency response agencies:
Lifeline (https://www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/recovering-after-a-natural-disaster) Phone: 13 11 14
Beyond Blue (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/bushfires-and-mental-health/) Phone: 1300 22 4636
Federal Government Disaster Assistance (https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Pages/home.aspx). Phone: 180 22 66
Red Cross (https://www.redcross.org.au/get-help/emergencies/resources-about-disasters)
As a business we have donated to charities and RFS, who are on the frontline helping families and wildlife directly affected and have made personal donations too. We encourage others reading this to take action and provide assistance in whatever way they can, because collectively we can make a big difference to those impacted during this time.
