Australian Emergency Fund

Donations to the Australian Emergency Fund power the work of Australian Red Cross emergency teams in Australia, so that they can help the most vulnerable people in our communities before, during and after emergencies. This includes:

• training and equipping our emergency response teams and volunteers
• supporting our work to prepare communities for disasters or other emergencies
• powering our response and recovery work when emergencies strike whether it’s floods, fires, storms or cyclones.

Our emergency teams are experts. Many of them have lived through emergencies themselves. With your support, we can continue making sure that Australian Red Cross can be there, helping people through the most challenging moments of their lives.

At least 80% per cent of money raised goes directly to the purposes of this fund. No more than 20 cents in every dollar is spent on support costs so we can run Australian Red Cross efficiently and effectively.

These support costs include investments associated with the overall operational capacity of Australian Red Cross, such as:

• supporting program delivery, including ensuring our compliance and safeguarding obligations are met, and necessary program management infrastructure
• support for workers, volunteers and employees, including human resources and work health and safety
• technology and communication infrastructure, finance, audit and accounting
• secure systems to manage donations and investing in our fundraising so we can help even more people in need.

Yes, donations of gifts over $2 are tax deductible in Australia. If you receive a material benefit for your donation then it is not tax deductible: for example, if you receive points or another material benefit from your credit card provider.

You will receive a receipt in your name.

In the unlikely event that funds raised exceed the cost of our emergency services work, the excess will be used to support our everyday work with other people experiencing vulnerability in Australia.

Australian Red Cross takes your privacy seriously and handles your personal information in accordance with our Privacy Collection Notice and Privacy Policy. If you do not want to receive marketing materials from us, you can email contactus@redcross.org.au or call 1800 RED CROSS (733 276).

We really appreciate the generosity, but we are not accepting in-kind donations for food, clothes, medical equipment or other items, as we’re unable to distribute those overseas. There are several good reasons for this. Every item has to be checked, cleaned, sorted, packed, transported, stored and distributed, which hugely increases the cost of the relief effort and diverts from work that may be needed on the ground.

Also, the items donated aren’t always what people need. But cash helps people make dignified choices that are right for them. Even worse, unwanted boxes of donated goods can clog ports and post offices and actually prevent the delivery of essential items like medicines and relief supplies. 

Read more about what might happen when goods are donated after an emergency: Donating clothes or goods after an emergency.

If you have good-quality clothes or household items, our Red Cross Shops would gratefully accept them, to on-sell in Australia and raise funds for our vital work. Find out how you can donate.