The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) is encouraging Australians to donate to registered charities in the wake of Cyclone Debbie.
ACNC Commissioner, Susan Pascoe AM, said Australians who wanted to help can find local charities that are ready to assist on the Charity Register.
“The ACNC extends its deepest sympathies to all those affected by the devastation and destruction caused by Cyclone Debbie,” Ms Pascoe said.
“I encourage anyone who wants to donate to those affected by Cyclone Debbie to give to a registered charity.
“The best way to check if a charity is registered is to search the Charity Register at acnc.gov.au/findacharity. The Charity Register provides information on over 54,000 charities, including information on the beneficiaries of the charity and locations where the charity operates.
“By giving to a registered charity, you can be confident the donation goes to the intended cause and that the charity acts according to the required governance standards.”
The public can also take these steps to ensure they are giving to legitimate charities:
- Always ask for identification from door to door and street fundraising collectors.
- If you haven’t heard of an organisation, look them up on the Charity Register to see if they are registered.
- Do not provide your personal, credit card or online account details unless you know it is a trusted source.
- Do not open suspicious or unsolicited emails - delete them.
- If you think that there is something wrong, contact the charity directly and alert them of your concerns.
- Visit the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s SCAMwatch website, scamwatch.gov.au, for information about the latest scams. The Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) have also released advice on identifying and reporting scam activity. The alert is available on their website, acma.gov.au.
The Queensland Government has also released information on volunteering and helping those affected by the cyclone at qldalert.com.