Businesses across Australia and the Business Council of Australia are acting to help Australians suffering from the bushfire crisis, by coordinating to provide support and relief.
“Right now, people from our member companies are working on the ground to support firefighters, emergency services and communities in practical ways during this terrible situation,” Business Council President Tim Reed said.
“We are all proud of these people and all the firefighters and volunteers for their tireless efforts. As a business community, we seek to expand our support for them, and for the local communities, they are fighting to save.”
Reed added, “We have written to our members to encourage all companies to support their volunteer staff with a minimum of 20 days paid leave. As a business community, we will also be there once the immediate crisis has past and the recovery effort begins.”
The BCA has put in place two specific initiatives to help once the immediate emergency is over. One of them, in partnership with Equity Trustees (EQT), is the Australian Volunteer Support Trust which shall assist the families of any volunteer in Australia who tragically loses their lives through their volunteer work.
The trust’s primary focus of the trust will be on supporting children to adulthood with a particular emphasis on their education. It will be effective from 1 July 2019 to include the current bushfires and be administered by independent trustees to respond to the current situation and future emergencies.
The BCA is also establishing a Community Rebuilding Initiative which will be the first point of contact for companies to coordinate during this crisis and will work as an interface with federal and state authorities.
It will be a five-year initiative working closely with the National Bushfire Recovery Agency headed by Andrew Colvin, APM, OAM to coordinate help, mobilise resources to where they are most needed and assist with rebuilding efforts.
The initiative will focus on coordinating support from the business community such as providing employment opportunities for volunteers and victims who have lost work as a result of the disasters, additional services for communities, reconstruction support and financial relief.
In addition, this initiative will have a fund for cash contributions. These funds will be in trust managed by Equity Trustees. The trust will be independently audited.
Going forward, the BCA will establish a permanent capability to mobilise and coordinate the business community’s response in times of future disasters.
“This has been a devastating, frightening and shocking time for Australia and our hearts go out to all of those who have lost so much” Business Council CEO Jennifer Westacott said.
“We are so grateful for the efforts of our brave volunteers and emergency services personnel, just as we are proud of the efforts of the entire Australian community to support those in need.
“The BCA and the entire business community is in this for the long haul. Like all Australians, the business community is capable of incredible things. We will work with governments to ensure we do everything we can to match resources with need and help in the recovery effort to rebuild people’s lives and communities,” Westacott said.
Businesses who would like to make a financial contribution to the trusts can do so by directing funds to EQT’s account the details of which are:
- BSB: 083 092
- Account Number: 570 808 888
Donors are advised to note in the description if they will be donating to the Australian Volunteer Support Trust or the Community Rebuilding Initiative.
