This last week we have all witnessed incredible scenes of devastation due to flood waters caused by an extreme rain event over Southeast Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Areas affected include Maryborough, Gympie, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Northern Rivers (Byron Bay, Lismore, and Ballina) and now the rain is heading to Central NSW Coast and further south to Sydney. We all feel helpless and want to offer our support.

 Right at Home offices are in these regions and our clients, carers and families live in these affected areas. As a company whose business is to care for those in our neighbourhood including the vulnerable and the elderly, we are shocked and saddened by the devastation facing our communities.

Members of our organisation have asked how they can help. Besides for helping a neighbour or friend directly with their needs, investigating how best to help our communities at large, we discovered that there is a bit of a science to helping during disasters.

Nine News in their article published yesterday “How you can help with the flood crisis in Queensland and NSW” reported that GIVIT, an organisation dedicated to donating goods directly to persons where they are needed, ‘is strongly advising people not to send unrequested donations to impacted areas, noting that unrequested donations hinder recovery efforts by overwhelming charities.’  Needed items include new pillows, sleeping bags, livestock feed, washing machines and a range of different vouchers’

Nine News also reported that ‘Workers at some relief centres have also advised that they are receiving too many donations of things they do not need. A volunteer at a Lismore relief centre has advised too many clothes are being handed in, whereas phone chargers, toiletries and blow-up mattresses are in demand.’

So, what can we do to help?

Appeals:

• Foodbank Queensland is collecting funds for its Foodbank Queensland Flood Emergency Appeal 2022 to help get emergency supplies of food and water to Queenslanders affected by the floods. Donations to the appeal can be made here.
• GIVIT have a list of more than 68,000 items needed in the recovery efforts, with options for donors to send the items or pay for them to be purchased. See the list of items and donate here.
• Shoppers at Myer stores around the country can also donate to The Salvation Army's flood appeal at the checkout, as can customers at Woolworths stores in NSW and QLD from tomorrow.
• The Salvation Army is taking donations for both states here, with the funds to be distributed to where they are most needed.
• St Vincent de Paul Society, (Vinnies), has established two separate appeals for recovery efforts in each state.
  • Donations to Vinnies' NSW Flood Appeal can be made here.
  • Donations to Vinnies' Queensland Flood Appeal can be made here.
• Red Cross also have an appeal here or call 1800 733 276 to donate.

Physical help if you are in Queensland

Queenslanders are calling for a revival of the "Mud Army" of volunteers that helped clean up following the 2011 floods.

Brisbane City Council and Volunteering Queensland are calling for volunteers to sign up for the Mud Army 2.0 to help clean up Brisbane.

People can sign up to join the army or register to alert the army of where help is needed here.

There are currently only plans to establish a Mud Army in Brisbane, but Volunteering Queensland has urged people from other regions who want to volunteer to standby for further updates about volunteering groups.

We wish all our staff, clients, carers and their families strength and resilience to manage this clean up period and we appeal to all of those unaffected to dig deep and add to the appeals and volunteer with physical assistance where you can. We also wish those further south safety and protection.

Keep up to date with COVID 19 information on the following links:

Australian Government Department of Health

Victorian Health and Human Services

NSW Health

Queensland Health

ACT Health

WA Department of Health

Tasmanian Department of Health

Northern Territory Department of Health

SA Health

Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers in-home companionship and personal care, and assistance to seniors (elderly and aged care), and any adult who needs our care at home including adults living with a disability who want to continue to live independently or age in their home. Right at Home is your local expert for issues related to caring for your loved ones and is dedicated to keeping you informed about home care. With no admin or subscription fees Right at Home allows you to get more care from your package or budget.

Right at Home is a 'My Aged Care' government approved, home care provider for levels 1 – 4 and offers flexible in-home care services such as nursing care, after hospital care, post-operative care, respite care, dementia and Alzheimer's care. Right at Home also offers assistance with daily living and personal care such as grooming, hygiene, transport, shopping, meal prep, domestic services and social support, so your loved one can enjoy a more independent, vibrant life. Our nurses and caregivers are screened, highly trained, and insured prior to entering your home so you can trust us with the caregiving while you focus on your loved one.

To find out more, please give us a call on 1300 363 802 or visit our website.

Right at Home Offices in Australia: Sydney Lower North Shore; Sydney Upper North Shore; Sydney Central and Eastern Suburbs; Sydney Northern Beaches; Sydney North West; Sydney The Hills; Padstow St George; Macarthur Penrith; Newcastle; Hunter & Port Stephens; Southern NSW; Toowoomba- Darling Downs; Sunshine Coast and Gympie; Mackay; Central Queensland; Townsville; Far North Queensland; Gold Coast South; Gold Coast North; Northern Rivers; Brisbane Bayside; Brisbane South; Brisbane North; Brisbane West; Perth Midland; Perth Northern Suburbs; Perth West Coast: Kalgoorlie Wheatbelt; Moreton Bay Region; Sydney Inner West; Sydney Ryde; Greater Logan; Gosford; Sydney Liverpool