Media Release
TSUNAMI DISASTER PROMPTS REVOLUTION IN INTERNET GIVING
The Internet Giving Revolution has arrived in Australia, with online tsunami appeals helping to liberate an estimated $30 million in extra donations from Australian pockets.
Dr Rhonda Galbally, CEO of Our Community and founder of the online "Australian Giving Centre" at www.ourcommunity.com.au, said almost $30 million had been given online to tsunami crisis appeals in the past week.
Of that amount, more than $3 million had been channelled through the Australian Giving Centre, a secure online donation facility administered by Our Community, with support from Westpac Bank.
"Without the internet, much of this money would never have reached the major charities seeking donations," Dr Galbally said.
"The internet has given a new voice to the clarion calls for support and has provided a vehicle to fulfill the extraordinary need and passion to donate.
"Even more importantly, it has allowed instant access for people to donate as soon as they are moved to give – from their homes or offices and even if the shops and banks are shut."
Dr Galbally said Australian community groups had been relatively slow to take advantage of online giving compared to the United States, but the tsunami disaster appeared to have heralded a change in such attitudes.
"Now through the tsunami appeal, we know without a doubt that Australians are willing to give online," she said.
"Donations through the Australian Giving Centre have ranged from $10 to an amazing $20,000 using various credit cards."
The Giving Centre offers a one-stop-shop of tsunami appeals, allowing members of the public, businesses and local councils to make an immediate and secure donation using a credit card.
Appeals currently listed on the site include Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, the UNHCR (the United Nations Refugee Agency), Save the Children Fund Australia, CARE Australia, the International Women's Development Agency, The Salvation Army, and Habitat for Humanity.
Our Community charges nothing for the service, ensuring that 100% of donations reach the group of the donor's choice.
Dr Galbally today announced several major additions to the Australian Giving Centre, which she urged the Australian business sector, local councils and the general public to use.
The new features include:
- The Tsunami Scam Watch – featuring up-to-date news on tsunami fundraising scams and tips on how to avoid them.
- Practical Help Sheets for businesses, individuals and local government detailing how they can contribute to the relief effort.
- Downloadable Images to allow local government and business websites to link directly to the Australian Giving Centre.
- A Register of Events for Australia's National Day of Mourning, which will list events in all communities and local government areas of Australia.
- Why the Appeals are Important – a section of the website where prominent Australians have their say about the importance of the tsunami relief effort.
- Language-Specific Information on tsunami fundraising efforts. The information sheets are aimed at affected communities and will be available in Sinhalese, Tamil, Thai and Indonesian.
Dr Galbally paid tribute to all those who had contributed to the tremendous fundraising effort so far and urged people to keep on giving.
She also thanked businesses who had already linked to the Giving Centre, as well as the Municipal Association of Victoria, which is helping people to donate more easily by encouraging local councils to download giving images for their websites from www.ourcommunity.com.au/download. She called upon other local government bodies to take the same level of leadership.
Dr Galbally also paid tribute to the Westpac Bank and its staff, who have provided a huge amount of support and waived all fees and charges for tsunami donations, and American Express and SecurePay, who have also waived their fees.
"With Our Community providing all of its services for the Giving Centre free of charge – we now have the full 100 per cent of all donations going directly to the relief organisations," Dr Galbally said.
The Australian Giving Centre is posted online at www.ourcommunity.com.au.
Our Community is an online resource for Australia's 700,000 community and not-for-profit groups.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Brian Walsh / Kathy Richardson (03) 9320 6800