It’s the bushfire crisis that has brought Australia to its knees and left the rest of the world watching on in horror.
As of January 6, at least 22 people are dead and more than 1500 homes have been destroyed as fires continue to burn through more than six-million hectares of land across the country.
Below is a breakdown of how you can help out.
Bushfire latest: State-by-state breakdown of all areas affected by blazes
Items
Queensland-government-backed Givit is coordinating donations of items across Australia.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has urged people to pledge money – not clothes or food – to his state’s communities, saying they don’t have the time, space or people to sort through items.
“I don’t want to appear harsh in any way, but we don’t need any more clothes, food, trucks on our roads,” he said on Sunday.
“I know it all comes from a place of kindness and I thank everybody who’s made those donations.”
The CFA, Victoria’s rural fire service, echoed that call: “Experience tells us that donation of money is much more effective and provides more flexibility than the donation of material items or pre-loved goods.”
More from 7NEWS.com.au on the bushfire crisis:
South Australian authorities have also echoed the sentiment.
But premier Steven Marshall has encouraged Australians to continue to buy goods and produce from the popular Kangaroo Island and Adelaide Hills regions.
Accommodation
Offers of emergency accommodation for people displaced by the East Gippsland bushfires are being managed by the local council.
Those able to help should email [email protected], with details of location, bedrooms available, facilities and return contact details.
Elsewhere, writer and sports commentator Erin Riley says more than 5500 people have used Find A Bed to offer beds or homes to evacuees.
Accommodation provider Airbnb has activated its Open Homes program in New South Wales and Victoria, offering a place to stay to those affected by the fires.
Those needing assistance or wanting to list their home can do so here (New South Wales) or here (Victoria).
Money
Bendigo Bank Bushfires Disaster Appeal (Endorsed by Vic Govt)
Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm has established a nationwide fund and six other funds for each state. All money will go to those who have lost everything for immediate relief.
The Victorian government has endorsed the Victorian fund and added $2 million to it on Sunday.
“If there’s money sufficient beyond that, we’ll look to support communities that have been affected,” Premier Daniel Andrews said.
Kangaroo Island Mayor’s Relief Fund (Endorsed by SA Govt)
The South Australian premier and Kangaroo Island mayor have endorsed a relief fund set up to aid the recovery of the bushfire-ravaged island.
The State Emergency Relief Fund (SERF) has also been launched for those affected by the Adelaide Hills fires at Cudlee Creek and beyond.
State fire services
Donations can be made to the state-funded rural fire services. Some states allow pledges to individual brigades.
* Victoria: CFA Donate
* NSW: NSW RFS donate
* South Australia: CFS donate
* Queensland: RFBAQ donate
Fallen firefighters’ families
The NSW RFS has established official funds for the young families of Samuel McPaul, Geoffrey Keaton and Andrew O’Dwyer, who lost their lives battling fires this season.
Donations can be made via Support firefighter families on the NSWRFS site.
Celeste Barber’s donation page
More than half a million people from across the globe have pledged more than $30 million to the NSW RFS through the Australian comedian’s Facebook fundraiser.
Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
Donations are being accepted through the general disaster relief fund, which goes to helping those affected by bushfires, heat, floods, cyclones and other emergencies.
Andrew Coghlan, Red Cross National Manager of Emergency Service, told 7NEWS.com.au that knowing how to help was difficult.
“When people donate items that cannot be used it actually costs to dispose of them and this can literally mean that there is less money available for people in need,” Coghlan said.
“Money is often the greatest need, as it can be spent by the affected people on what is most necessary in their lives.”
More than $8 million has been raised since New Year’s Eve.
Salvation Army
The Salvos are providing meals to evacuees and first-responders through the Salvos bushfire appeal.
St Vincent de Paul
Vinnies is helping with bills, clothing, bedding and food through the Vinnies bushfire appeal.
The Queensland government chipped in $25,000 in September as part of a wider $100,000 donation. Search “Vinnies Bushfire Appeal”.
Wildlife
NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Service (WIRES) say they received more than 20,000 calls in December alone, up 14 per cent. Search “WIRES donate”.
Mogo Zoo and the Port Macquarie Koala Hospital have both set up GoFundMe pages, raising $50,000 and $3.1 million respectively.
Donations can be made through Mogo Zoo Fire Recovery or Port Macquarie Koala Hospital on GoFundMe.com.
On South Australia’s Kangaroo Island, as many as 25,000 koalas are feared dead and tens of thousands more injured.
South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management (SAVEM) has been activated to manage the wildlife rescue effort and is working with other groups in fire-affected regions.
Donations can be made to SAVEM here or the Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park on GoFundMe.com.
GoFundMe
Millions have been raised on the website, including the wildlife funds above, $138,000 for the Mallacoota Fires Support Fund and $110,000 in one fund for Cudgewa and surrounding Victorian towns.
But, given anyone can set up a page, fraud is a possibility – such as a funeral fund for young Cobargo father Patrick Salway.
That page was falsely established in his niece’s name, raising $4000.
“She has not opened this page and is absolutely gutted … that someone would be so f***ing low to do this to her and our family,” Mr Salway’s brother-in-law, Dean Hancock, said.
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