Several companies operating or involved in the building, construction and property industry in Australia have or have committed to donating to help provide support and relief for Australian’s suffering from the bushfire crisis.
It is estimated that the 2019-20 Australian bushfires have already burned more than 10.3 million hectares of land, destroyed over 5,900 buildings (including over 2,000 homes) and killed at least 27 people.
Chris Dickman, a professor of ecology at the University of Sydney, also estimates that more than one billion animals have been impacted by bushfires nationally.
A number of companies in the wider built industry have recently donated money, equipment and announced other measures to support fire-affected communities and wildlife as well as the efforts of the Australian firefighters.
BLUESCOPE
- Paid leave arrangements are in place for staff volunteering with emergency services.
- $1 million donation to relief efforts and a workplace giving system to give employees a chance to donate.
CIMIC
- CIMIC and its operating companies are offering paid leave for these extraordinary times.
- CIMIC is also providing support through equipment and resources where possible.
CFMEU
- The National Construction Division of the CFMEU donated $100,000 to the bushfire recovery effort.
LENDLEASE
- Lendlease has pledged to match individual donations from staff to the Australian Red Cross up to $500,000 and have made this pledge retrospective to apply to all donations made since 1 December 2019.
- In addition, Lendlease has activated a number of initiatives in communities aiming to help front line resources including the emergency services.
MASTER BUILDERS
- Master Builders Australia announced that it is donating $150,000 to support communities affected by the devastating bushfires and the tireless and courageous efforts of those who are fighting them.
MIRVAC
- Mirvac is offering workers unlimited paid volunteer leave.
- In addition, the company has pledged $500,000 to relief efforts and will match all staff donations dollar-for-dollar.
QIC GLOBAL REAL ESTATE
- Donation points at centres across Australia to support the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund.
- QIC teams across Australia are donating their time by staffing these donation points via a dedicated volunteer leave policy, and volunteering on frontlines.
- Donations to the Red Cross and NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES).
- Centres are also partnering with local community groups and leaders to raise funds, supplies and goodwill for those affected, and providing free digital advertising to raise awareness of appeals.
SCENTRE GROUP
- Scentre Group has donated $500,000 to relief efforts and will match employee contributions dollar-for-dollar.
- An in-kind donation of digital media space and community desks in Westfield Living Centres has been made to boost fundraising efforts.
STOCKLAND
- Stockland employees who are assisting with voluntary firefighting efforts will receive up to 20 days paid leave.
- Stockland has pledged $500,000 to the Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal (FRRR) and other charities assisting with the immediate relief effort in affected communities.
- The company will also provide dollar-for-dollar matched employee giving, free space for nominated charities at retail town centres to support their fundraising efforts, free digital advertising space, counselling and small business support on an ongoing basis.
THE GPT GROUP
- $200,000 donation to Australian Red Cross, Salvation Army and NSW Rural Fire Service
- Staff donation matching by giving two dollars for every dollar donated up to $50,000
- Employee and family support through access to emergency and community service leave programs and Employee Assistance Program.
VICINITY CENTRES
- Vicinity will contribute an initial $250,000 evenly distributed between The Salvation Army and Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Customers can also donate cash in person to these organisations at any Vicinity centre across Australia.
- Vicinity is offering community space at 60+ centres, for organisations coordinating a response to the crisis, and free digital advertising space across Vicinity’s screen network.
- Vicinity are providing ongoing paid leave for staff who are volunteering in emergency services and will match all donations made by employees to official bushfire-related charities.
To help those on the frontline of the recovery effort, a donation can be made to the following organisations and charities:
FIREFIGHTERS:
NSW Rural Fire Service – https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/volunteer/support-your-local-brigade
Victoria’s Country Fire Authority – https://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/supporting-cfa#donate-cfa
Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland – https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq
South Australian Country Fire Service – https://cfsfoundation.org.au/donate
CHARITIES AND OTHER BUSHFIRE APPEALS:
Australian Red Cross – https://www.redcross.org.au/
Salvation Army – https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/
St Vincent de Paul Society – https://www.vinnies.org.au/
GIVIT – http://www.givit.org.au/
Foodbank – https://www.foodbank.org.au/support-us/make-a-donation/?state=vic
Buy a Bale – https://www.buyabale.com.au/
Gippsland Emergency Relief Fund – https://www.gerf.org.au/
Victorian Bushfire Appeal – https://www.vic.gov.au/bushfireappeal
Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal: https://www.frrr.org.au/cb_pages/Donate-to-FRRR.php
WILDLIFE
WWF Australia – https://donate.wwf.org.au/donate/koala-crisis/koala-crisis?t=AP1119W03
Port Macquarie Koala Hospital – https://www.koalahospital.org.au/shop/donation
RSPCA – https://bushfires.rspca.org.au/
WIRES – https://www.wires.org.au/