News

Humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Mozambique

Initial reports indicate at least 1,000 people have died and 400,000 made homeless, but the full scale of the suffering and loss Tropical Cyclone Idai has caused in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi is still not yet known.

Standing with Muslim communities

What you can do to ease grief, share kindness and have informed conversations

Why has the world failed Syria?

The Australian aid worker who heads up the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent operations in Syria reflects on a brutal eight-year long war.

Millions at risk in Philippines measles outbreak

Red Cross is waging a mighty battle in the Philippines to counter a deadly measles outbreak which has claimed more than 310 lives so far this year, a toll that's climbing daily.

We know nuclear weapons are unacceptable: let’s act on it

A new survey shows that nearly four out of five Australians want our country to sign on to a global treaty banning nuclear weapons for good, writes Australian Red Cross CEO Judy Slatyer.

From East Africa to Australia: Elie’s inspiring story

With determination, hard work and a little bit of help from Red Cross, Elie is making the most of his new life in Australia and helping others along the way.

International Women’s Day 2019

Red Cross was founded by women. Grown by women. And today, is led by women. We wouldn’t be who we are and what we are without their incredible efforts. Meet some inspirational women.

The power of friendship

After leaving behind everything in search for a better life these Venezuelan neighbours made a pact to never leave at each other’s side.

Bringing hope to a place no one should have to call home

Sam Cleary, a water and sanitation engineer and Red Cross aid worker, shares this story of life in the refugee camps on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

Bringing hope to a place no one should have to call home

Sam Cleary, a water and sanitation engineer and Red Cross aid worker, shares this story of life in the refugee camps on the Bangladesh-Myanmar border.

This is home

Home. It is something we all have in common. The yearning for that place which provides us somewhere we truly belong, it holds a space inside all of us.

Be prepared with first aid basics

Do you know what to do when someone is suffering from heat stress? Or how to treat a jellyfish sting? We’ve put together a handy guide to these and other first aid basics.

Ten years on from the Victorian Bushfires

Andrew Coghlan, National Manager of our Emergency Services Program, reflects on the tragic 2009 Victorian Bushfires.

Remembering the 2009 Victorian Bushfires

A decade on from one of Australia’s worst-ever natural disasters, our thoughts are with those who lost their lives, those who survived, those left behind, and those still struggling to recover.

Aussie farmers are looking up

Drop in on farmers helped by drought relief and the generosity of Australians and see how their optimism will get them through the big dry.

13 must-see movies that will change the way you see the world

We’ve pulled together our 13 must-watch movies – they all have important messages we reckon are worth being reminded of as we begin a new year.

Farming communities encouraged to apply for assistance

Drought-hit farmers say applying for the grants is painless and quick.

Indonesia - Krakatoa Tsunami

Red Cross continues to rush emergency aid to villages along Indonesia’s Sunda Strait, which were devastated by powerful tsunami waves on 22 December.

Guys with guns: stop seeing us as a target

Just weeks ago, two young female Red Cross nurses were killed in Nigeria. We all pleaded for the unconditional release of my colleagues. But our pleas and prayers, unfortunately, came to nothing.

Helping bushfire evacuees find normalcy in chaos

When a grandmother and her twin granddaughters arrived at the Miriam Vale evacuation centre seeking refuge from bushfires, volunteer Joy sprang into action to help them get to their formal.

The world is failing child migrants at risk of violence, exploitation and sexual abuse

Thousands of unaccompanied and separated children are at daily risk of sexual and gender-based violence along the world’s migratory trails.

Wildlife warrior and baby wallaby keeping spirits up

As Deepwater residents flee the devastating bushfires, one little evacuee is bringing a smile to their faces.

Survivors of Sulawesi

These are the images of Sulawesi the world has seen, now for the stories of survival you haven’t heard

Beating the odds in the Bangladesh camps

“Four strong men, four strong men to OPD,” the radio crackles in my pocket.

Beat Loneliness podcast

Almost half of all Australians experience loneliness – a little or a lot. So why can’t we try to beat it together?

We will remember them

The 11th November 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. A century on, we continue to uphold the laws of war.

2 billion people affected by natural disasters in past 10 years

The 2018 Red Cross World Disasters Report asks who is being left behind in their moments of greatest need.

Only 1 in 10 survive a cardiac arrest

Restart a Heart Day, 16 October 2018

Red Cross launches appeal for survivors of Sulawesi quake and tsunami

Relief operations underway in Palu City as extent of humanitarian impact emerges.

Bushfires and other disasters - lessons from the frontline

From people who have survived fires and floods to the volunteers who help them to cope and put their lives back together, those who've been there share what they learned.

More lives could be saved if those first on scene were first aid trained

Would you know what to do if you were first to arrive at the scene of a car accident?

Your support is helping the people of Lombok stay strong

Following a series of devastating earthquakes, emergency relief is getting to where it's needed.

Money reaches farming communities

$10.5m fund set up to help drought-affected farmers

21 famous people you probably didn't know supported Red Cross

From a princess to a stuntman to a rapper – meet 21 stars from Australia and around the world who’ve helped Red Cross do what it does.

An Aussie nurse’s story from the Myanmar Crisis

Against a backdrop of unspeakable violence and human endurance, a touching story of survival in a Red Cross field hospital.

Eighteen months without rain

While the drought is hurting farming communities, there is help – and hope – at hand.

Red Cross launches appeal for Lombok earthquake victims

The appeal will help provide urgently needed aid to people and communities affected by the recent series of devastating earthquakes.

Red Cross urges Australians to support drought crisis

Appeal funds to be distributed to drought-affected Australian farmers and communities.

Safety and dignity come first

A Global Compact on Migration should protect migrants and refugees, no matter what.

Because of her we can

Red Cross people introduce the important Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in their lives.

Make a difference: A how-to guide to helping others and changing the world

Here’s our ultimate list of things you can do today to make a difference and help change the world for the better.

Red Cross NAIDOC Awards

Honouring outstanding First Nations women and men around the country.

Asylum seekers – people you want to hire

People seeking asylum can be outstanding employees – if we work together to lift the barriers.

”This is a lose-lose situation for people”

Statement from ICRC President Peter Maurer following his visit to Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Kindness goes a long way

Sayed’s hope carried him from Afghanistan to Australia. A little kindness helped him start his life here.

Kindness goes a long way

Sayed’s hope carried him from Afghanistan to Australia. A little kindness helped him start his life here.

In his own words

The country has been deeply affected by the rape and murder of young comedian Eurydice Dixon. Our National Resilience Advisor John Richardson shares his raw personal experience of the public grief.

Country Road and Red Cross team up

Between now and Monday 9 July Country Road is giving away $10 vouchers to use in their stores for every single pre-loved Country Road item you donate to us.

Thousands donate to our clothing drive

Thanks to Uber and everyone who supported our Uber x Red Cross clothing drive earlier this month. We collected a massive 43,500kg of clothing.

Meet the teams helping us beat loneliness

More than 500 teams, from all over the country, have signed up to help since we launched project Beat Loneliness a few weeks ago.

Building a new dreaming

How an Aboriginal community, and a young Sydney man with a laptop and microphone, fostered a generation of musicians, actors, dancers and film producers.

Building a new dreaming

How an Aboriginal community, and a young Sydney man with a laptop and microphone, fostered a generation of musicians, actors, dancers and film producers.

Generosity looks good on everyone

Clear some space in your wardrobe and join in the free Uber x Red Cross Clothing Drive on Sunday 3 June.

Here’s to our volunteers! National Volunteer Week

This week we’re celebrating all the people who take action to make Australia a better place.

Recovering from tragedies like Osmington

As Margaret River grieves for the loss of a family, here are some tips for taking care of yourself and your children.

Deadly young leaders carve a path for their future

Like any parent, Wally wants the best for his children. Sitting next to his daughter Geraldine, he has every reason to be beaming with pride.

Sara connects young and old

Watch magic happen, as our Red Cross volunteer brings unlikely friends together.

Sara connects young and old

Watch magic happen, as our Red Cross volunteer brings unlikely friends together.

A note to those who say humanity is dead

On 8 May 2018, World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and the birthday of our founder, Henri Dunant.

An unlikely alliance in the fight against Loneliness

We launched our social experiment #BeatLoneliness at an esports bar in Melbourne, Rocket League gamers by our side.

We can't engineer a way out of the Bangladesh camps

In Bangladesh refugee camps, there is a scramble underway to prevent a catastrophe and mass deaths.

A Safe Haven for those without a bed

Some have been homeless for years. Others have just run out of luck and have nowhere else to sleep.

Prepare your pets for an emergency

When the unexpected happens, having a plan in place for your furry friend is just as important.

Meet a Red Cross Calling legend – Anne Boulter

Anne's in her eighties and uses a walking frame to get around, but that hasn't stopped her from carrying on her mother's legacy and raising money for Red Cross.

New app prepares for emergencies

New data released by Red Cross and general insurer IAG has revealed that the safety and wellbeing of loved ones is the number one priority for Australians in an emergency

Resilience taskforce a step forward

Australian Red Cross has welcomed first steps toward a new national framework to reduce the impact of disasters

ICRC statement on Yemen crisis

ICRC Regional Director for the Near and Middle East, Robert Mardini's address to the 2018 Yemen High-Level on behalf of the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement.

Still raw, a year after the flood

One year after Cyclone Debbie triggered flash flooding, women in the village of Condong reflect on how life has changed.

In an evacuation centre

Inside the Bega Evacuation centre a community’s beating heart is on public display.

Red Cross responds to bushfires in Victoria and New South Wales

We’re offering psychological first aid and helping reconnect families in Bega and South-West Victoria.

Syria: Is there still hope?

It’s been seven years since Syria’s conflict began – is there still hope?

Support in North QLD floods

”They’re a tough lot, North Queenslanders,” Red Cross volunteer Karen says at the end of a couple of days making calls to people caught up in recent flooding.

Seven years is too long in Syria - Opinion

There are 400,000 people trapped in Eastern Ghouta, on the outskirts of the Damascus. Another day in the seven-year-Syrian war. Another tragic siege.

Our humanitarian sisterhood

On International Women's Day we want you to meet 10 great women we know.

Massive earthquake hits Papua New Guinea

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake has devastated Papua New Guinea, with parts of the country now in a state of emergency.

The Sea of Flowers Phenomenon

A new paper highlights the important role in public grieving played by temporary memorials – the sea of flowers and other items that springs up temporarily at times of collective trauma.

A licence to a new life

It’s a journey that left both Paula and her Red Cross mentor Jen in tears of joy in the Roads Department office the day she passed her licence test.

More support for victims of forced marriage

Red Cross will provide more support to victims of forced marriage following an announcement by the Federal Government.

Tropical Cyclone Gita

Taikivu’s roof was ripped off in the cyclone, but his family has a dry place to sleep tonight

Why you should prepare your mind for an emergency

How you react to stress during and after an emergency can have a huge impact on how you cope and subsequently recover.

Spirits high at evacuation centre

Offering support to community evacuated from Daly River, NT.

A lifeline for stranded WA family

An emergency food drop by helicopter.

Responding to a week of wild weather

Floods, winds and bushfires – we’ve just been hit by all of them. It’s time to prepare for whatever comes next.

In South Australia, heatwave help is at hand

Telecross REDi has been activated in SA ahead of heatwave conditions this long weekend.

Red Cross honours colleagues killed in the line of duty

We honour our colleagues’ lives and we mourn the too-high price they paid in carrying out their work.

Red Cross Nurses Honoured at Florence Nightingale Ceremony

Five Australian Red Cross nurses have been honoured with the Florence Nightingale Award today for their “exceptional courage and devotion to the victims of armed conflict or natural disaster.”

Red Cross Red Crescent meets to create a better future

The 21st session of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies General Assembly wrapped up this week in Antalya, Turkey.

Statement on fraud in West Africa

Australian Red Cross has confirmed that funds from its Ebola appeal were highly unlikely to have been illegally taken – following the fraud uncovered by the International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC).

Six months after Cyclone Debbie, life is far from normal

It's been half a year since Cyclone Debbie crossed the north Queensland coast, and many people in the cyclone's path still carry the emotional scars.

A yarn makes all the difference

TeleYarn connects volunteers with Elders through a simple regular phone call to have a chat.

The question that sparked change for reconciliation

What would Red Cross look like if its staff, volunteers and clients were all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?

The power of connecting with community and country

Footballers trained in suicide awareness, men camping in cars to tackle violence and Indigenous aged care residents re-energised to be back on country.

We took a trolleycam into Aldi and learned how to save money with FoodREDi

The next steps to reconciliation

Reconciliation begins with learning the truth about who we are. This week, Red Cross asks all Australians to be part of the next big steps in our nation's reconciliation journey.

Red Cross to provide aid to besieged Syrian towns

Red Cross and Red Crescent have finally been granted permission to enter and deliver aid to the besieged community of Madaya.

Syria: Attack on humanitarian convoy is an attack on humanity

Red Cross Red Crescent is outraged by the horrific attack on a SARC warehouse and an aid convoy in rural Aleppo.

Spare human life in eastern Aleppo

Thousands of civilians are in grave danger in the final moments of the battle in eastern Aleppo.  

Red Cross | ALDI Partnership to fight food insecurity around Australia

ALDI has generously committed significant funding to help us extend our vital FoodREDi program in local communities.

Surprise a child with an IKEA Let’s Play for Change gift

IKEA is supporting Australian Red Cross’ migrant support programs to inspire kids and give them hope for their future.