Supporting communities through partnership
Together with Australian Red Cross, we're supporting communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
Since 2019, we've offered free mail redirection to thousands of Australians unable to return home because of a disaster. Together with our customers, we've also raised more than $1.9 million for Australian Red Cross through donations at participating Post Offices and other fundraising initiatives.
These contributions help Australian Red Cross support communities before, during and after disasters, including helping people prepare for emergencies, providing support during a disaster and assisting recovery efforts.
Through our partnership with Australian Red Cross, we're helping more people access the information and resources they need to prepare for disasters, because being prepared can help communities recover sooner.
Helping children prepare for disaster across Australia
Through Pillowcase Workshops, Australia Post and Australian Red Cross help children in high-risk areas learn practical ways to prepare for emergencies. Each student decorates a pillowcase to take home and use as the start of an emergency kit with their family.
The workshops help build resilience by:
- Helping children and families understand what to include in an emergency kit
- Building confidence and reducing stress when preparing for disasters
- Encouraging households to be better prepared for emergencies
Pillowcase workshops help students prepare for floods
See how students in Derby are preparing for future floods through the Australian Red Cross Pillowcase Workshops.
Read transcript
Video: Child drawing on pillowcases with the Australian Red Cross logo in the top left corner and the Australia Post logo in the top right corner
Audio (Tarryn Murray, Pillowcase Program Volunteer, Australian Red Cross): Being able to prepare these students, in both how to relax
Video: Two Australian Red Cross female volunteers sit cross-legged on the floor in a classroom with students...
Video: Tarryn talking to camera...
Audio (Tarryn): and through our breathing in colour, but also in preparing a pillowcase,...
Video: Kids drawing in the classroom...
Audio (Tarryn): ...gives them power.
Video: Chelsea Warfield, Teacher, Derby District High School talking to camera...
Audio (Chelsea): People get trapped in communities quite often. And a lot of our students and families...
Video: Overview of rural area with a single road in to and out of town...
Audio (Chelsea): ...will get caught out there in the wet seasion.
Video: Overview of the town itself.
Audio (Rebekah Martin, Senior Officer and WA Pillowcase Coordinator, Australian Red Cross): Each community is completely different....
Video: Rebekah talking to camera.
Audio (Rebekah): ...and we acknowledge that, and we want to ensure that...
Video: children playing with cards on the ground.
Audio (Rebekah): ...the program fits to the community's needs.
Video: Steven Cox (Broome Postal Manager, Australia Post) and Rebekah walk through the town past the past office.
Audio (Rebekah): The support of funders like Australia Post...
Video: Rebekah and male post office team member standing in the post office looking at drawings kids have done.
Audio (Rebekah): ...is incredibly vital.
Video: Steven speaking to camera within the post office.
Audio (Steven): Empowering and educating school children on preparedness...
Video: Kids drawing in a classroom.
Audio (Steven): ...not only makes a difference to themselves, but their families and the resilience of the whole community.
Video: Two female Australian Red Cross volunteers standing in classroom with kids holding up their completed drawn on pillowcases.
Video: Red screen with Australia Post logo, transitions to split screen with Australian Red Cross on white background.
Supporting customers and communities in times of disaster
- Early preparation
- Essential services
- Fundraising
Encouraging early preparation
Being as prepared as possible can make an emergency less stressful, give more control and reduce the impact on you and your family. Explore Australian Red Cross resources including the RediPlan guide and Get Prepared app.
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1 When you make a donation to Australian Red Cross Society (ABN 50 169 561 394, 637 Flinders St, Docklands VIC 3008 redcross.org.au) at participating Australia Post outlets (Australian Postal Corporation ABN 28 864 970 579, 480 Swan Street Richmond VIC 3121 auspost.com.au), your donation amount will be directed in full to Red Cross' Australian Emergency Fund to help people during disasters and other emergencies in Australia. The fund enables Red Cross to prepare people, provide comfort and care during a disaster or emergency, and support recovery.