The NSW bushfire crisis is devastating our communities. Multiple lives have been lost, millions of animals have perished, over 2,000 homes have been destroyed, and up to 5 million hectares of bushland has burnt since October 2019.

Bushfire Disaster Recovery Update

For a full list of Evacuation Centres, Recovery Centres and Disaster Welfare Assistance Points visit:  www.emergency.nsw.gov.au/recovery

Anglicare Sydney trains, activates and coordinates hundreds of Disaster Recovery volunteers across NSW often in partnership with local Anglican churches. Since the bushfire season escalated in early November our volunteers have been continuously working in Bushfire Evacuation Centres across the state, assisting communities impacted by the catastrophic bushfires. These have included centres in the Northern Inland, Mittagong, Cooma, Batemans Bay, Narooma, Bega, Merimbula, Ulladulla, Bomaderry, Mid North Coast, Hunter region and many more.

These amazing volunteers are:

• Trained to provide material aid and personal support to evacuees which can be as diverse as listening, providing support, psychological first aid, making beds, supporting all other agencies, assisting with meals and coordinating pets and animals, whatever is needed.
• on call and assist in centres 24/7 in this current state of emergency. In Southern Highlands over the last weekend some were activated at midnight and others at 2am. They turn up happy to provide the support for which they have been specially trained.

Anglicare is very grateful to our volunteers and the work they do in our local communities, but never more so than now, when the bushfire crisis has been so severe and ongoing.

We ask that you pray for them – for continued strength and energy to assist, to be able to support people who are experiencing so much trauma, and for their ongoing safety and wellbeing in those demanding and trying circumstances.

Do you need help?

Clothing, food and financial assistance

Anglicare is building up our existing resources in order to support the current bushfire crisis.

You can access help with food, clothing and finances at our Anglicare Op shops and Food and Financial Assistance Centres.

Anglicare counselling services

Stressful and life-threatening events like the recent bushfire crisis can have profound impact on our well-being. It's common to experience a range of emotions and behaviours - from sadness, fear and anxiety to feelings of guilt and inability to concentrate.

Anglicare will offer free face to face, telephone or skype counselling for adults and children impacted by bushfires. Our staff are experienced in trauma counselling and are available in a range of locations including Nowra, Ulladulla, Moruya, Wollongong, Campbelltown, Parramatta, Summer Hill and other Sydney sites.

Contact:
1300 651 728
[email protected]

24/7 Helplines:
Mental Health Line - 1800 011 511
Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636
Lifeline - 13 11 14
Mensline - 1300 789 978
Kids Helpline - 1300 551 800

Free resources

• Tips for providing emotional and psychological support (PDF - 102 KB)
• Bushfire Services Guide (PDF - 162 KB)
• A resource for teachers supporting school students after the bush fires (PDF - 221 KB)

How you can help

Donate to Anglicare’s Bushfire Appeal

Our greatest need is for funds to support our immediate emergency relief activities as well as the work to be done in the longer-term recovery effort. 

Donate now

Donate food or clothing 

Donate clothing
You can donate clothing by putting good quality new and used clothes in your local Anglicare bin or by taking your clothes directly to an Anglicare Op shop.

Donate food
Please take all non-perishable food donations directly to our Anglicare Warehouse in Villawood or your nearest Food and Financial Assistance office. To discuss large donations please email [email protected]

Become a Disaster Recovery volunteer

Our Disaster Recovery volunteers are trained, registered and ready to go at a moment’s notice to provide material aid and general support in evacuation and recovery centres. The next training session for new volunteers will occur from March onwards.

Please pray

Psalm 146.1,6

‘Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord my soul…He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

the sea, and everything in them - he remains faithful forever.’

Give thanks

• For God’s peace and presence in all circumstances and for his promise, to remain forever faithful.
• That conditions have eased ever so slightly for the moment.
• For our dedicated Disaster Recovery Manager, Esther Singenstreu, who leads a team of Anglicare volunteers assisting in evacuation and recovery centres to provide support and material aid for communities in partnership with local and state government agencies.

Pray

• For mercy upon our land and for provision of rain, from the Sovereign God of Creation, to drench the drought and heat-affected bush and ground.
• That there is no further loss of life or livestock or property across all fire-affected areas.
• For hard to access communities and those who are trying to provide them with material needs.
• For the mental health and wellbeing for people impacted by the fires and for volunteers and workers who have witnessed trauma and served tirelessly without breaks.
• For the remaining summer months and the communities who fear what might still happen

For those who wish a further resource to pray for our drought and fire affected land, the Archbishop of Sydney has written a prayer.