Australian Red Cross has welcomed new Australian guidelines for the reporting of charitable fundraising during national disasters.
Red Cross has joined as a voluntary signatory to a new Fundraising Institute of Australian (FIA) Practice Note which establishes a set of minimum conduct standards that for charities achieve best-practice fundraising and reporting during times of natural disaster.
Director of Red Cross Engagement and Support Belinda Dimovski said Red Cross appreciated the opportunity to work with the Australian Government and the FIA on strengthening this process.
"As part of the consultations, we were pleased to offer our own reporting standards as a template for the sector," she said. "At times of natural disasters Australians always respond incredibly generously and Red Cross has a long history of establishing appeals at such times to allow donors to help affected people and communities.
"Our own fundraising practices commit us to regular, transparent reporting of funds raised and disbursed. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission examined our response to the 2019-20 bushfires and found it to be best practice.
"Red Cross stands ready to deploy in times of need to deliver humanitarian assistance. The credibility of our work and the sector's relies on public trust and we support initiatives that increase transparency, accountability and professionalism.
"Red Cross continues to champion the need for harmonising of fundraising through a national framework and look forward to ongoing collaboration with the government and agencies towards that critical goal."
