Whats most helpful for those in need after a disaster
Whats most helpful for those in need after a disaster
This can generally apply to any disaster, written for the Victorian Bushfires January 2026
Victoria is a disaster. like the many disasters unfolding accross Australia. One Victorian Wildlife shelter, was completely lost to busfires along with most rescued wildlife and farm animals included in central Victoria. This is Tarcombe Wildlife shelter. ABC news has picked up this story which is great. Donate directly avoid all the extra costs and delays rules etc by using a fundraising page. Go to them from there FB page Tarcombe animal shelter. There are and will be many others needing help across Australia.
Wherever Refuges/ shelters are near disasters like this existing wildlife shelters will also be inundated with burnt, injured and super stressed wildlife. Many of these shelters near are self funded and will have huge ongoing costs both in money and human resources to treat what is treatable. Vet fees and specific food, water etc etc will be needed . If your a Victorian local check out your local wildlife shelter (on social media is a good place to start)
DO NOT DRIVE INTO AREA'S NEAR FIRES,
DO NOT ATTEMPT TO FEED WILDLIFE IN BUSHFIRE ZONES THIS IS NOT HELPING BUT HINDERING
We spent scarce hours every day cleaning up toxic and unsuitable food from local roadsides after bushfires,
ITS NOT HELPFUL AND RESULTED IN THE DEATHS OF MORE WILDLIFE ATTRACTED TO ROADSIDES, that i had to euthanise.
STAY AWAY FROM DISASTER AREAS THAT IS REALLY HELPFUL
We were sent Pouches and assorted other things, most unusable and in qtys we could not deal with. We spread them out where we could but this took our time and money.
In reality it is funds that is the most help they can then send the money on things like vet fee's, feeding (specalised foods) whats left once the fire has gone and the HUGE process of recovery
We know people want to help which is great. You can google who your local refuge is, see what they want on social media, calling a busy refuge is not always helpful
This will be an ongoing issue for all refuges as it can take up to 2 years to raise a Joey, but then the places to released them can take 10, 15, 20 years to recover for some species to be liveable again. The weeds after bushfires are unbelievable, we have had to control by hand and this will apply to events across Australia.
Locals helping locals, supporting local Wildlife groups ensures help goes where help is needed. Not all Shelters will have fund raisers going they will be flat out doing their thing. This applies to farmers impacted as well. In Australia Willdife shelters are not funded by governments just by their own special carers.
Its not over yet for those living in Victoria or flooding in Queensland the recent fires in WA etc etc
CASH HAS NO CONDITIONS ON HOW IT IS SPENT, THOUSE ON THE GROUND HAVE A VARIETY OF EVERY CHANGING NEEDS. IT NEEDS TO BE GIVEN UNCONDITIONALLY.
Not all crowd raising fund raisers are legeit, anyone can set one up, they dont need authority from whomever they claim to be raising from. Know your local Refuge and support them IN WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR.
We at Rocklilywombats are NOT impacted by any fires a this stage and we know first hand what its like to lose your wildlife, that you have spent years rescuing, rehabilitating and releasing to natural disasters.
A few hours a week can really help, even just cleaning out yards, picking up poo, no skills required. Just Ask
If its safe to do so, pull injured wildlife from roads, check pouches and take joeys to nearest vet or refuge.
It will be sad world without our wildlife.
Leaving out water on hot days could be all you can do and that in itself is life saving.
BEWARE OF SCAMS Is the shelter actually in the area of the Bushfire ? There were shelters scamming in 2020. Learning whats near you whever you are in Australia and giving a hand is really worthwhile.
NOTE THIS IS AN OLD PHOTO FROM 2020 WE ARE OK