How global crises are felt at home

Until last week, I had never written so many letters of condolence at once. Writing seven letters to Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies across the world marked an unprecedented moment in my career – and one that should never be considered normal.

Each letter marked the loss of an aid worker – local volunteers and members of the community – killed in their efforts to help others. People whose job was to ease suffering, not become victims of conflict themselves.

They were a stark reminder that conflict is never distant. Even when it's thousands of kilometres away, its consequences reach far beyond borders into offices like mine, into communities across Australia, and into the lives of people worrying about family, friends and loved ones caught in the turmoil.

Conflict doesn't stop at borders

In a world more connected than at any other point in human history, conflict no longer stays contained within the borders where it begins. Its physical frontlines may be distant, but its emotional, social and psychological impacts ripple across continents, reaching families and communities here in Australia.

Today, conflicts in the Middle East are shaping conversations in Australian homes, influencing social cohesion, and impacting the wellbeing of people who live, work and call Australia home.

They carry the weight of family separation, fear for loved ones, profound grief and loss, and a continuous sense of uncertainty.

The psychosocial reverberations of modern conflict are being felt throughout the world. These impacts are not confined to those with direct family ties to crisis regions, they extend to broader communities navigating tension, misinformation, and heightened anxiety about global instability.

How Australian Red Cross responds

At Australian Red Cross, we see this every day through our work with people seeking safety, multicultural communities, and those striving to reconnect with missing family members. We are bearing witness to the very human effects of conflict – effects that do not require physical proximity to be deeply felt.

Our role in these moments is clear. Guided by our Fundamental Principles – humanity, neutrality, impartiality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality – we provide humanitarian support grounded in compassion and focused on people's dignity. As part of our mandate to disseminate and promote respect for international humanitarian law, we work to increase awareness of the rules that apply during situations of armed conflict and the protections they provide.

Alongside our colleagues across the global International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, we continue to reiterate a simple but vital message – international humanitarian law must be respected by all parties in all conflicts, to protect civilians, healthcare and humanitarian personnel, and reduce human suffering.

Across the country, our teams are showing up in practical, compassionate ways, offering psychological first aid, creating opportunities for people to connect, and providing neutral, supportive spaces where difficult conversations can happen safely.

We're helping people navigate the emotional toll of distressing news cycles, supporting families searching for missing loved ones through our Restoring Family Links service, and standing alongside multicultural communities, community organisations, and frontline workers. Many are looking for guidance on how to talk with people in distress, ease tensions, and build understanding in moments that feel overwhelming.

Local or global: one mission

Importantly, our international and domestic work are not separate endeavours, they are deeply intertwined. What happens overseas affects the communities we serve here, and what we learn locally strengthens our humanitarian action globally. Whether responding to conflict, disaster or displacement, our mission remains the same – to alleviate human suffering wherever it appears.

At a time when global crises can easily divide, communities across Australia show remarkable resilience, coming together and supporting one another – finding strength in connection. Australian Red Cross is committed to standing alongside them.

Conflict may begin elsewhere, but its consequences can be felt right here. That makes our work, both internationally and at home, more vital than ever.