Donations and giving support
Strathbogie Shire Council sincerely thanks everyone who has shown such generosity and care in supporting communities impacted by the Longwood fire.
The response from the community has been overwhelming. At this stage, the Ruffy Hall and the Longwood staging area are at capacity, and impacted communities have asked that donations of physical goods be paused to allow time to sort, assess and distribute what has already been received.
For those still wishing to help, the most effective way to support recovery efforts right now is through financial donations, which allow support to be directed where it’s needed most.
The most effective way to help is through the official State Government donation platform GIVIT. GIVIT ensures that assistance goes directly to those who need it most by matching donations to specific requests from emergency services and impacted households.
To donate and find out more, visit givit.org.au.
The Victorian Bushfire Appeal is a general appeal to support all impacted communities. 100% of the money goes towards supporting the relief and recovery of people and communities affected by an event. Your donation will not be used to cover any administrative costs.
An independent board oversees the donations and their distribution
In response to the January 2026 Longwood Bushfires, the Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund has the objectives of providing immediate relief to the communities in the Strathbogie Shire Council and Mitchell Shire that have been impacted. This includes: transport and containment of livestock, animals or goods; the welfare of people and animals; repairs and replacement of critical buildings and assets.
Your contribution supports locally informed recovery through a trusted charitable structure.
The Strathbogie Disaster Relief Fund was set up to complement existing services and support. All donations are managed through a trusted, tax-deductible structure.
Decisions on the allocation of funding are informed locally based on defined eligibility streams and administered professionally by the Australian Communities Foundation to provide practical
recovery outcomes.
You can donate HERE.
Administered by Bendigo Bank’s charitable arm, Community Enterprise Foundation, all donations of $2 or more are tax deductible and donors will be provided with a tax receipt through the Foundation. This will be identified in the relevant appeal details online and will also appear on your tax receipt.
Donations given to support a specific impacted area will remain within that community to aid in its recovery.
Disaster Relief Australia’s team of volunteers are here to help providing vital relief and recovery services to affected communities.
In Victoria, over 100,000 emergency management volunteers help to keep communities, homes, businesses and the environment safe. They give up their time to help prepare, respond, recover and rebuild from disasters.
Victoria’s volunteers contribute both in and out of uniform and often behind the scenes, and their local knowledge and expertise is invaluable.
If you would like to become a volunteer, there are a range of sectors in which you can help. For more information, click on the Volunteer Victoria website and the Volunteer guide links below to get started.
Search for volunteer roles | Volunteering Victoria
State Peak for Volunteering | Volunteering Victoria
Volunteer Guide (PDF) | Volunteering Victoria
Volunteers | Emergency Management Victoria