All over the world, Red Cross teams are preventing suffering and helping those who are hurting to feel stronger and supported to start again.
Special Report, prepared by Collin Sivalingum, National Director – Emergencies and Disaster Response
There when it counts, staying for the long haul.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
The future may be uncertain, but our response can’t be. When disasters strike, your investment in our emergency response sets the scene for recovery and resilience. By giving teams on the frontline of a disaster the support they need, you can play a critical role in providing one-to-one care where and when it matters. Read on to find out more.
The need: The disasters behind the headlines.
An overview of the emergencies we’ve responded to in recent years. To put the growing need for our services into perspective, here are some statistics that show how vital it is for us to raise additional funds in order to be able to deliver them whenever and wherever they are needed. There’s never been another time when the continued kindness, generosity and support of donors like you has been as important as it is now.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
Jul 2023 – Jun 2024 Our Emergency Services team activated 1,462 volunteers, supporting more than 51,600 people impacted by disasters across 70 events. 189 volunteers and staff were deployed interstate in the period also.
Dec 2024 – Feb 2025 In this short period our Emergency Services team responded to 13 events, with 380 volunteers and staff supporting 7,074 individuals in need.
Jul 2021 – Jun 2022 During this period our Emergency Services team activated more than 1,683 volunteers and staff, assisting 137,570 people across 41 emergency response events.
The solution: When the cameras stop, Jenny keeps going. We’ve stopped being surprised when we see a disaster headline in the news. But that doesn’t mean we’re prepared. With bushfires, floods, cyclones and other emergencies happening more frequently, hitting the same communities repeatedly, volunteers like Jenny play a more vital role than ever. This is her story.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
Jenny, Lismore, New South Wales When the floods came in 2022, we very quickly realised we weren’t as prepared as we needed to be. That was a massive event, much bigger in its scale and impact than the recent Tropical Cyclone Alfred. In disasters like floods, preparedness is absolutely critical. Not just in terms of the physical wellbeing of yourself, your home and your belongings. You also have to be mentally prepared for the psychological challenges that situations like this bring. Back in 2022, our community believed they were prepared. They’d packed up by Friday and Saturday, and there was almost a kind of “bring it on” mentality. Everyone felt ready for what was to come. But there’s a big difference between being ready for the type of 10-11 metre floods we’d experienced in the past and a 14-and-a-half metre flood. No one was expecting that. When people arrived at the recovery centre, many of them were very distressed and tense – they didn’t know how crowded it would be or if their needs would be met. As volunteers, it’s our job to reassure them, and let them know we’re here to help them, in every way we can. The calming presence of Australian Red Cross at that entry point can make all the difference for so many people.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
The solution: When lives are on the line, our supporters step up. When entire communities are at risk, it is the brave and committed volunteers, disaster response teams and support workers who step up. The solution to the growing threat of a crisis starts with preparedness. We like to think of it as a three-pronged approach: we protect, connect and empower.
With your support, Australian Red Cross can: Protect when disaster strikes.
Our Emergency Response Teams step up to deliver food, water, shelter, psychological first aid and support to people affected by disasters when they need it most. They’re on the frontline, offering everything from a safe space to talk about their impacts, connection to support to help them and their families. All of which makes a huge difference. Connect to help communities heal. We work in partnership with local communities to help build resilience through long-term recovery programs – helping them rebuild their homes, infrastructure and heal mentally and physically. Because of our local community based volunteers we’re always first on the scene when disaster strikes, however much of our most important work occurs long after the event itself. Recovery is a long and non-linear process, which takes time, collaboration and sensitivity. Empower and equip people with the tools to stay safe. Through our extensive disaster preparedness training programs, we’re equipping individuals and their communities with the knowledge, skills and resources to mitigate the impact of future disasters. Effective responses begin long before a disaster occurs. Preparation is everything when it comes to ensuring everyone has the best chances of making it out safely. Donate before June 30 to help Australian Red Cross provide lifesaving emergency relief and long-term recovery support for people in Australia impacted by disasters.
Your impact: Being there for Australian families after a disaster. The importance of psychological first aid. Disasters and emergencies are never simple. They don’t just affect homes — they disrupt lives, livelihoods, routines and entire communities. The impact is often layered, with emotional, physical, social and economic consequences that unfold over time. That’s why psychological first aid is at the heart of how Australian Red Cross supports people in the early hours, days and weeks after a disaster. In those first moments of crisis, the presence of a calm, compassionate person can make all the difference. Our trained staff and volunteers are there to offer emotional and practical support — to listen without judgment, provide comfort, and help people feel safe and connected again. Sometimes it’s being there to listen. Sometimes it’s simply a quiet space to breathe. Other times, it’s helping someone reconnect with a loved one or linking to a service/support they need to rebuild. These small acts of care are powerful — they ground people during chaos and remind them they’re not alone. This is why the delivery of psychological first aid by trained Australian Red Cross teams is so critical. It gives our people — and communities — the tools to look out for one another when it matters most, and to begin the long road to recovery with dignity, support and hope. Australian Red Cross support services at a glance: Psychosocial support Helping to protect and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being, during and long after a disaster. • One-to-one psychosocial support to people experiencing the distress and disruption of a disaster. Community recovery events to foster community connections and participation. • Face-to-face or telephone outreach psychological first aid. • Identifying needs and shaping recovery practices to better support affected individuals and communities. Recovery capability building • Strengthening and developing stakeholder and community confidence and recovery capability through evidence-based workshops and training. • In-person and/or online training targeting recovery leaders across councils, government, organisations, community groups and households. Bespoke mentoring program • Supporting community-led recovery by linking trained disaster recovery volunteer mentors with community workers and leaders to discuss and address the challenges posed by disasters. Humanitarian and psychosocial advocacy • Ensuring the consideration of early and long-term psychosocial support across every aspect of disaster recovery. • Close collaboration with local recovery committees.
Your impact: A disaster recovery timeline.
Our volunteers and staff are there for the long haul — walking alongside individuals and communities through every phase of recovery, often over a three-year period and beyond.
0 - 6 months In the immediate aftermath of a disaster, our main priorities are the delivery of psychological first aid and the provision of timely, accessible information to help people make informed decisions. This includes helping people reconnect with loved ones through services like Register. Find.Reunite, which helps register, find and reunite family and friends. At the same time, we advocate for community voices and marginalised groups to ensure inclusive recovery planning from the outset. We also work in partnership with government agencies and other recovery services to streamline our service delivery and strengthen long-term recovery efforts. 6 – 12 months Once life begins to return to normal, we shift our focus to fostering community connections and delivering wellbeing support through our recovery basics, stress management workshops and Wellbeing Toolkit. 12 – 18 months As people begin to come to terms with the psychological impacts of a disaster, we continue to streamline our service delivery and recovery planning in partnership with government agencies and other recovery services. The focus during this time is on ensuring that communities are better prepared for future events. We may also help to plan and organise disaster anniversary events to support ongoing recovery and reflection.
18 – 24 months At this stage, we continue to be present in disaster-stricken communities, long after many other recovery programs have ended, despite there still being a need for support. Our advocacy for community voices and marginalised groups does not stop — it remains a core focus throughout all stages of recovery, ensuring that inclusive recovery planning continues well beyond the immediate response. We also strengthen our support for community leaders who may be at risk of fatigue or burnout, helping to sustain local leadership and resilience. 24 – 30 months At this stage, it’s all about building connections, and increasing engagement and collaboration within communities. The focus is on growing people’s confidence so that they can be mentally stronger, and better prepared logistically if disaster strikes again. 30 – 36 months Towards the end of our recovery cycle, our focus shifts from recovery to resilience, as we empower communities to lead the way towards new beginnings, and a brighter, more prepared future.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
Your investment: Delivering safety, security and hope.
Your investment in preparedness is an investment in safer lives and a more resilient local community. When you donate today, your tax-time gift will support all factors of Australian Red Cross’ powerful efforts across the country. In the spirit of preparedness, I wanted to share with you a breakdown of our projected costs for the financial year ahead. With your support, we’ll be able to reach them, and who knows, maybe exceed them. There’s no such thing as being too prepared, after all.
"Our greatest investment is in our people who have the expertise, the knowledge and training to deliver the humanitarian impact you want to make."
Embedding our staff in communities before, during and after emergencies – $3,665,194 Our frontline teams, volunteers and local partners help communities prepare for disasters, respond immediately when crisis strikes, then recover, reconnect and thrive. Communications and connections – $400,181 Ensuring our teams have the tools they need to communicate clearly, coordinate across regions, and stay connected in fast-changing situations. Travel and vehicles – $360,433 Getting our teams to where they’re needed most, including remote or hard-to-reach communities, ensuring we can be there, on the ground. Enabling technology – $127,000 Our network of technology and systems underpins every action we take to ensure we can maximise every donor dollar towards the work we deliver in community. Y our investment today can elevate our urgent response to disasters today, and tomorrow. Beyond the headlines, you can be there.
Credit: Conor Ashleigh.
When the cameras and crews roll on from one emergency to the next, we’re often left with scenes of devastation that all start to look the same. Of the darkest days when hope seems nearly lost. But the deeper stories about human resilience, of preparing for the worst just in case it happens, or the time it takes to recover from trauma when it does, well they’re often left unheard. It’s your impact that makes them possible. Your impact on the lives of others you might never meet. I’m not a fundraiser, but I know whenever my teams are on the frontlines helping others, it’s because of special people like you who care. Who are there for the long-haul. Who appreciate that in a changing climate when the frequency and scale of floods, cyclones, and bushfires will only intensify, we’ll hear those human stories of resilience like Pricilla’s who get back up on their feet once more. Asking for a donation doesn’t come naturally to me. But I know your gift today is an investment we need to see more of. An investment in people, in communities, my teams, in ensuring Australian Red Cross can be around tomorrow and the next days after that. An investment in hope that we can face the worst when the dark clouds gather. Please give what you can. Thank you
Collin Sivalingum National Director of Emergencies and Disaster Response
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