A year of profound humanitarian impact

For so many, 2025 has been a year characterised by immense challenge and hardship. We’ve witnessed disasters intensify and multiply as the climate changes, prompting vital emergency services to adapt how they respond in real time. Meanwhile, across the globe, humanitarian needs have become increasingly complex as conflict, crisis and disaster drive some of the highest levels of displacement the world has ever seen.

As we reach the end of the year, we are proud to say that throughout so many of these challenges, Australian Red Cross has been there. In the face of tremendous adversity, we have stood alongside people and communities while empowering them to move forward towards a more resilient future.

And nowhere is this impact better illustrated than in our 2024-2025 Annual Report.

An annual report may be an official record of financials, governance, and activities, but at Australian Red Cross, it’s so much more. It shines a light on the hope, care and connection we bring to so many people, while highlighting the stories of communities that have adapted to future challenges through our programs, services and support.

And while we stand for humanity always, this year, we are particularly humbled yet heartened to share the difference our work has made to the lives of so many.

Making a difference across Australia

In Australia, the concept of ‘disaster season’ is quickly becoming a thing of the past. If 2025 taught us anything, it’s that disaster can strike anywhere, at any time, and that connected, resilient communities that look out for one another over time make the strongest recoveries.

Take the story of Hans, for example, who you’ll read about on page 10 of our Annual Report. We first met Hans, an Aboriginal Elder, while helping him to recover after he lost everything in the Townsville floods of 2019. Having helped him previously, when Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached Queensland in early 2025, Australian Red Cross was there to help Hans again – this time, it was about supporting him to feel better prepared.

At Australian Red Cross, disaster recovery isn’t just about helping people clean up after a storm. Our all-hazards approach focuses on helping communities to prepare, withstand, recover and build long-term resilience, so they can adapt to future challenges with strength dignity.

Making a difference overseas

From the Middle East to Africa, Myanmar to Ukraine – this year, we saw over 120 armed conflicts taking place across the world, many of which have been categorised by unacceptable breaches of international humanitarian law (IHL). As one of 191 National Societies in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (the Movement), Australian Red Cross stands alongside our international counterparts during times of conflict and disaster, sending highly skilled humanitarian workers – nurses, sanitation experts, psychologists and engineers – to areas of conflict and disaster where their expertise is needed most.

On page 19 of this year’s Annual Report, you’ll meet Rebecca, a mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) delegate who has deployed to both Gaza and Ukraine. At The Red Cross Field Hospital in Gaza, Rebecca worked alongside local and international colleagues to support patients, families and medical teams through profound grief and trauma – support that often helped them find a way forward, despite everything they’d been through.

This year, Australian Red Cross delegates just like Rebecca provided critical support to our Movement counterparts in areas of crisis, conflict and disaster all over the world. And as global challenges continue to intensify, the incredible difference our highly skilled delegates make is only set to grow.

Making a difference alongside our partners

Much of the impact we make on peoples’ lives wouldn’t be possible without the support and passion of our partners. Our partners share our humanitarian vision and sit at the core of our important work. This year, our corporate partners delivered over $9.5 million in financial, pro-bono, and in-kind value – without them, we couldn’t make the difference we do.

Our Uber x Australian Red Cross Clothing Drive was a major highlight for 2025, with 125,000 kilograms of quality clothing donated – a 56 percent increase on the 2024 total of 80,000 kilograms.

Elsewhere, you’ll read about another collaborative highlight: in 2025, we joined forces with the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) to produce and distribute an online modern slavery training module. At Australian Red Cross, we see the impacts of modern slavery firsthand – survivors who enter our Support for Trafficked People Program have experienced the worst forms of exploitation, and we know that addressing modern slavery in our operations and supply chains continues to be a priority for our organisation. It’s a mission we share with SBS and is reflected in this co-designed program, which provides actionable insights and impactful strategies to help organisations identify, prevent, and address modern slavery in all its forms.

These are just two stories of over 100 corporate and philanthropic partners, who supported us to deliver essential humanitarian, retail and community programs both within and beyond Australia’s borders this year.

At the heart of this report lie the stories of those we’ve helped – help that’s made possible by our generous supporters, from donations big and small.

We hope that reading this report inspires you to join us, and become part of the world’s largest humanitarian movement.