As severe bushfires ravage Australia, our thoughts are with all those affected by this unprecedented national disaster and we offer our heartfelt thanks to everyone supporting the response and recovery. Here, we outline some of the ways that QIC is responding to the crisis.

To support the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief and Recovery Fund we have established donation points at each of our centres across Australia . QIC teams across the country are donating their time – both by staffing these donation points as well as volunteering on frontlines – and all are supported by our dedicated volunteer leave policy, which was recently bolstered in response to the crisis.

QIC has kick-started the fundraising campaign with donations to both the Australian Red Cross and to NSW Wildlife Information Rescue and Education Service (WIRES). Along with our national fundraising drive for the Red Cross, our centres are also partnering with local community groups and leaders to raise funds, supplies and goodwill for those affected. Our centres are also providing free digital advertising to raise awareness of appeals.

For us, this is only the beginning: we will continue our work with the Australian Red Cross and are currently preparing next steps so that we can continue to provide support to affected communities over the coming months and beyond.

To all of our communities, to those who are grieving, and to those supporting the response and recovery effort – we are with you.

For more information and to donate directly, visit www.redcross.org.au

Image: NSW RFS via Adam Stevenson.