Close up top view of young people putting their hands together. Friends with stack of hands showing unity. Photo: File.
The Red Cross has received more than $25 million in donations to the Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund since New Year’s Eve, but do you actually know where your money is being spent?
Red Cross teams are on the ground supporting people at evacuation centres and recovery hubs across NSW, Victoria, Western Australia and South Australia, with funds being distributed to those who need support.
Support services include helping people prepare for an emergency, providing a safe place or helping people to take shelter, psychological first aid, information services, and practical support over the upcoming months and years it will take to recover and rebuild.
While the large majority of the team are volunteers, the Red Cross told Region Media that funds from the Disaster Relief and Recovery funds cover their costs, which include training, equipment and transport, as well as the coordination of teams in the community.
As of Monday, 6 January, the organisation had started providing emergency grants to people across Australia whose primary place of residence has been destroyed or made uninhabitable by the fires since July 2019.
The Red Cross will not deduct more than 10 per cent from the funds raised to cover administration costs, which include IT, human resources and finance teams, the organisation told Region Media.
“While it costs Red Cross more than this to support our operations, we are committed to maximising the direct use of funds generously donated for our emergency relief and recovery work,” it said.
Additionally, Register.Find.Reunite, a service that helps people find friends and loved ones after an emergency, has registered over 30,000 people and has taken more than 5,000 enquiries.
If you want to register for a grant you can visit redcross.org.au/grants and register your contact details. Alternatively, you can call 1800 268 772 during business hours.
If you have concerns about the condition or whereabouts of a loved one in a bushfire zone, you can visit https://register.redcross.org.au to share details of family and friends you are worried about with the Red Cross.
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All the charities concerned should provide a clear statement to how its divided for everyone to know the outcome
This, of course, would add to the admin costs, but if you're happy with that... have you rung and asked them?
Morris Reinbear and under these circumstances why can't these charities provide free admin services the same as our volunteer firefighters provide their services free, all money collected for the bushfire should be 100percent directed to restoration of people's loss including animals etc and not utilised by charities or Governments to feather their own nests🤔🙄😳👎👎
Good question
You would hope that money donated towards bushfire appeals would specifically be directed to that cause. I understand administrative costs would of course occur. Perhaps all organizations involved should be publicly accountable at the end of this process. After all substantial amounts have been donated. We should all know where the funds were allocated.
Good idea. Of course this will add substantially to the admin costs, but what the heck!
The body established by the prime minister should be responsible for ensuring that this money is only expended on delivery and administration associated with our bush fires. Without this accountability funds could be expended on programs overseas.
Exactly! Wouldn't want it spent overseas. Let's reject donations from overseas and tell them to spend or at home.
My Daughter lost her home years ago and Red Cross were the only ones that gave immediate assistance not the salvation army.
Admin and salaries of course. You are better off giving a victim the money directly rather than giving to charities.
I wish if there was a law which forces them to disclose their financial spending transactions. This rot has gone for too long unchecked
What rot? I think you'll find there is such a law because of their tax status.
Why can't legislation be introduced which forces charities to show on all publications how much of each dollar is actually spent on the purpose of the charity?
The G Spot donated goods are being distributed directly from trucks to communities in need who have asked for the assistance - these donations are not being dropped to charitable organisations and evacuation centres for them to co-ordonate distribution. Andrew Dale/The G Spot are co-ordinating the whole chain from donators to recipients in need. They are not burdening any other relief efforts with their generosity. They will keep delivering as long those in need hold their hands out and those who can contribute hold their hands up. GET BEHIND THEM AND STAY BEHIND THEM.
Caitrin James I can vouch for this
As 1 of the delivery drivers I have seen first hand what is happening and where the goods are going
Andrew Toy additionally what I think people didn't realise when they implicated Andrew Dale's/The G Spot Drive was that this is not one of those efforts where people just turn up with what they want to donate, [you know firsthand that] the goods being sourced and delivered are what the specific recipients are saying they need and can't get. The efforts of you and every other of the many fantastic volunteers are nothing short of amazing. So many selfless people across so many communities - thanks for being awesome human beings
Caitrin James totally agreed
Becoming clear that money is what is needed not goods as resources are stretched trying to sort categorise, and distribute stuff. However Wildlife orgs (WIRES) need people to make knitted pouches and cotton linings, and locally set up watering stations
Rhi .... so, something maybe?
Sponsor the G spot in Canberra they are organising trucks with donations & these trucks are travelling through dangerous roads to give all donations direct to people stranded out in the rural areas view The G Spot on Facebook page & see for yourselves how Andrew Dale has done & continuously is doing for all fire affected communities they are genuine & doing the ground work directly with no admin fees whatever you donate goes directly to these people in need & they have been doing this ever since the fires started & saved a lot of people quickly they were the first to go out.
What about all those millions raised by a celebrity comedian? Who will administer that? Where will that go to? What regulatory body watches that 40+ million?
Huge effort and amazing to see humanity come together like this but what happens to all that money now?
Cassandra Inkley, the money she is raising is going directly to the NSW Rural Fire Service, it'll then be up to whoever manages NSW Rural Fire Service's funding to administer the funding.
More of it gets to where it is supposed to go than if you went down there yourself. How about people get as motivated to see how much of the money the public service spends on work. There is a real value for money investigation I would love to see.
If the critics of charities were honest with themselves they would realise their criticism is just an excuse to disguise their own meanness and unwillingness to donate. Giving something is better than giving and doing nothing.
Local animal rescue groups are in need!
When my parents town was ravaged by bush fire, the Salvos provided most of the meals and water to firies and residents.
the Red Cross were organising donations of clothing and money to people. They also helped with temporary accommodation.
A church group set up little ‘delis’ around the burnt areas so residents could get toiletries, non-perishable food and water for about three weeks after the fire went through.
So money does get through to those in need.
Vinnies do not take administrative fees out of donations made for disasters. They explicitly state that every dollar goes to those affected.
The admin fees come from other donations.
After the Canberra fires, Red Cross was given a huge amount of money for local support. Interesting how a new building then popped up...
Thanks for all this sound advice it’s great. 👏
Money is best going to the community who has been passing on food, drinks gift cards and supplies. I won't give a cent to big organisations. There are many Go Fund Me pages, notifications in Canberra Notice Board or Batemans Bay pages that are asking for help. Give straight to the source.
Christine Rusan sorry but I wouldn’t be touching a GoFund page as it’s too difficult to tell real people in need from the scammers
Barb Revill I can certainly understand this. I only donate to the Go Fund pages I know are not fake.
Doesn't Gofund charge an admin fee or a commission?? same/same as charities that have admin costs???
Natalina Ireland it's far less. A much bigger percentage over 90% goes to the cause.