Are you wondering how you can help support Australia wildfire relief? Well, the best way to do so, is by donating to one of the many organisations that have been set up to help humans and wildlife affected by the fires. But what if you don’t have a lot of spare change to donate? Don’t despair, there are still lots of ways you can help out. If you would like to donate below is a list of organisations that are supporting local firefighters, as well as contributing to the relief efforts to all those affected, wildlife and people. Some good places to donate are:
AU Redcross
Victorian Bushfire Relief
WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service)
Foodbank Australia
New South Wales Rural Fire Brigade
We’ve also joined forces with the StudentUniverse team in Boston and the StudentUniverseAU team to raise money. Head over to our Instagram and share our story. We’ll be donating $1 for every share that the post receives this week.
If you can’t donate we’ve got some alternative ways that you can help support the efforts. Even if you can’t donate right now.
1. Travel to the affected areas- but not yet
Sydney, courtesy of the NYT.
We’re sure many of you have Australia on your bucket list but hold it there for a while longer. Huge areas of Australia, especially rural towns and cities, rely on tourism to help support their economy and communities. So be sure to visit once the fires have subsided and it’s safe to do so. And once you’ve touched down in Oz, be sure to support many of the local businesses and relief efforts you can whilst you’re there.
2. Raise Awareness
Wildfires in Australia, courtesy of the NYT.
If you aren’t able to donate yourself, you may know a few people who can contribute to the cause. The more awareness we can spread the more people will get on board to help, donate and also drive change for the future.
3. Shop with brands that are doing their bit
If you need to purchase items, why not try to support brands that are doing their bit for the environment. Opt for brands that are sustainable, eco-conscious and those that are donating to the relief efforts. Some of our favourite brands that are focused on making sustainable and eco-friendly products are Patagonia, Lush, Nudie Jeans, S’well and FrankBody. By shopping with these brands and plenty of others you know that you are doing your bit to help support companies that are supporting more ethical working environments, decreasing waste, pollution and their environmental impact, investing more in sustainable materials, factories and practices and reducing their carbon footprints. So next time you really do need to buy something, try to buy from a sustainable or local brand where you can.
4. Offset carbon emissions from your flights when you book
As a result of climate change, more extreme weather conditions and increased wildfires are predicted to continue. Fighting climate change can help us make progress in trying to reduce and prevent these kinds of natural disasters in the future. If you’re heading on a trip this year, you can help by offsetting your carbon emissions on your flight. The money used to purchase carbon offsets goes toward reducing greenhouse emissions and funding renewable energy generation projects. When you buy your tickets with StudentUniverseUK, you can easily offset your carbon emissions. Just look for the Fly Green button during the checkout process. It’ll look like this:
5. Commit to making your lifestyle more environmentally friendly
It doesn’t have to be a lot, but making a few small changes to make your life a little more environmentally friendly can help. Instead of buying that new clothing item that you need, why not purchase from a vintage or charity shop instead? Purchase a reusable water bottle, as well as a travel mug for your hot drinks too. Cut down the plastic used in your beauty regime, buy shampoo and conditioner bars, washable make-up wipes and bamboo toothbrushes. Try to buy loose produce at the shops and don’t forget your reusable bag! These changes you make will help reduce your carbon footprint and reduce less waste. Plus you’ll be supporting local and sustainable businesses too.
6. Adopt a koala with friends
Already an estimated half a billion animals have been killed as a result of these fires in Australia. If you want to help, there are several local organisations that are raising money to rescue local animals and wildlife and help them recover. Donate to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, a local koala hospital that’s doing amazing work on the ground. Or, pool your money with a few friends to adopt a koala through WWF to provide more general support for wildlife across the region.
7. Vote
This definitely matters way more than you may think. If you’re eligible to vote, even for smaller local elections, please do. If you’re worried about climate change and the environment, be sure to do some research and vote for those supporting climate change efforts. The smaller elections can’t be overlooked too, change often happens on the smaller levels first.
Living in Australia right now? See more ways you can help locally with the fires. Want us to chip in for you? Share our recent Instagram post to support Australia wildfire relief before the end of the week, and we’ll chip in $1 for everyone who shares.