While the Australian bushfire crisis has been the top talking point within local conversations for some time now, the urgency for bushfire and wildlife relief has hit the world stage this month.

Australian bushfires have caused devastation across the nation due to both their fierceness and scale, but they’ve also brought out the kindness of many around the world, digging deep to help those affected.

From Elton John announcing at his Sydney show that he’s donating $1million to fire relief…

BREAKING: Elton John has closed a concert in Sydney by pledging one million dollars for Australia’s bushfire recovery efforts.#australiafire #AustralianWildFires #AustraliaisBurning pic.twitter.com/5u44fF4lfz

— Tom Williams (@tom__williams) January 7, 2020

…through to photographer, Lydia Collins, selling beautiful photos of Australian landscape with all proceeds going to @redcrossau & @wildlifevictoria; people across the globe are getting involved to help in whatever way they can!

 

 

 

 

 

 

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????????PHOTOS FOR BUSHFIRE RELIEF ???????? In this really difficult time for Australia, I am releasing 5 downloadable photos available for purchase at £10 each – all proceeds made from these sales will go to @wildlifevictoria & @redcrossau ♥️ Simply send me a DM or email me at: prints@lydiacollins.com with the photo/s you’d like and your email address! (see my stories for full versions), I will send you a direct payment link followed by the link to your photo/s that you can print to your desired size⚡️ Let’s join together and do what we can to help towards some of the devastation these fires have and are continuing to cause. Thank you ♥️

A post shared by PHOTOGRAPHER + CREATIVE (@lydiaxcollins) on Jan 9, 2020 at 11:29pm PST

How it started gaining traction

It started on social media in November when actor Russell Crowe auctioned his Rabbitohs baseball cap. It raised an amazing $100,000 for the rural fire service, after his NSW home was damaged in a bushfire.

But when New Year’s Eve came around, this was when the attention of the world switched to Australia as thousands of NSW and Victorian residents devastatingly were evacuated from their homes under apocalyptic skies.

With growing exposure on main stream and social media, the severity of the circumstances and urgency for help needed in Australia became clear.

Celeste Barber: Australian comedian set-up a Facebook fundraiser, the biggest fundraising effort in Facebook history, with over 1,3000,000 donations surpassing $50 million.

Pink: Pop star Pink kicked off the celebrity donors after the crisis spread to southern NSW and Victoria, pledging $500,000 on January 4.

I am totally devastated watching what is happening in Australia right now with the horrific bushfires. I am pledging a donation of $500,000 directly to the local fire services that are battling so hard on the frontlines. My heart goes out to our friends and family in Oz ❤️ pic.twitter.com/kyjDbhoXpp

— P!nk (@Pink) January 4, 2020

Chris Hemsworth: The Australian native pledged $1 million to support the fire fighters, organisations and charities working to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hi everyone. Like you, I want to support the fight against the bushfires here in Australia. My family and I are contributing a million dollars. Hopefully you guys can chip in too. Every penny counts so whatever you can muster up is greatly appreciated. In my bio I’ve added links to support the fire fighters, organisations and charities who are working flat out to provide support and relief during this devastating and challenging time. Beyond appreciative to everyone around the world for their well wishes and donations. It really does make a difference, so dig deep! Love ya.

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) on Jan 6, 2020 at 6:34pm PST

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban: The couple, whose Australian home is in danger due to the fires, donated $500,000 to Rural Fire Services.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Our family’s support, thoughts, and prayers are with everyone affected by the fires all over Australia. We are donating $500,000 to the Rural Fire Services who are all doing and giving so much right now. – KU

A post shared by Keith Urban (@keithurban) on Jan 4, 2020 at 3:27pm PST

Leonardo DiCaprio: The actor’s environmental organization, Earth Alliance, announced that it would pledge $3 million to its own Australia Wildfire Fund.

These are just a few of the many celebrities contributing to the bushfire relief, not to mention the phenomenal response from the public. It’s estimated about $100m has now been gathered to help causes related to the fires.

How to get donations to those in need, fast!

Once charities receive the donations, it can be hard to distribute to those in need fast. Here at Corporate Prepaid Cards, we’re looking to partner with charities to provide an easy and efficient way to give support in the form of prepaid cards, available to use online and anywhere EFTPOS is accepted.

If you work with a charity looking to aid those affected by the fires, please get in touch with Lawrence Montgomery via email at lawrence@zenithpayments.com.au or by phone at 1300 128 219 to discuss how we can help.