Giving more than goods and services in times of need
From an idea discussed around a kitchen table 15 years ago, Brisbane-based not-for-profit GIVIT now plays a critical role in donation management during and after disasters.
Since launching in 2009, GIVIT has facilitated the donation of more than eight million essential goods and services to people in need.
It was therefore no surprise the Queensland Government endorsed GIVIT as the official donation channel for Far North Queenslanders impacted by Tropical Cyclone Jasper in December 2023.
GIVIT’s efforts resulted in the donation of more than 40,000 essential goods and services to communities impacted by Jasper.
A critical aspect of GIVIT’s work was managing the donations to help re-establish the Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal, evacuated in its entirety after raging floodwaters inundated most of the town’s buildings and infrastructure.
The interagency Wujal Wujal Housing Return Working Group was established to return Wujal Wujal’s residents to Country as soon as possible.
GIVIT worked closely with Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council and not-for-profit partners Cape York Partnership, Jabalbina Yalanji Aboriginal Corporation, Gunggardji Aboriginal Corporation, and Cooktown District Community Centre to support residents displaced and to re-furnish 96 social houses in the community.
GIVIT developed the Wujal Wujal Flood Recovery Project to manage donations of essential goods and services and provide long-term wellbeing within the community to improve living conditions beyond pre-disaster standards.
In a massive undertaking, GIVIT provided 9,192 donations, including 113 fridges, 101 washing machines, 277 bed bases and mattresses, 686 essential kitchen items, and approximately 800 grocery vouchers.
The donations resulted in every household in Wujal Wujal receiving new mattresses and bed frames, essential whitegoods such as a washing machine and fridge, kitchen appliances, and cleaning products.
GIVIT was also instrumental in establishing Wujal Wujal’s community laundry, supplying two commercial washing machines and two commercial dryers.
GIVIT’s extraordinary efforts supported the recovery plan and contributed to the community being able to return to Country within six months.
But the enormity of the value of the donations goes far beyond the mere monetary and physical worth.
The project created several learnings for GIVIT and all recovery partners that will be applied to future disaster recovery projects.
GIVIT submitted feedback to Queensland's Office of the Inspector-General of Emergency Management for their review into the 2023-24 severe weather season to inform better outcomes in future disasters.
And the words of Audrey and Iris from Cape York Partnership sum up the power of GIVIT’s Wujal Wujal Flood Recovery Project: "GIVIT gave [us] back some belief Australia was generous”; “It gave the belief there is humanity out there."
GIVIT’s life-changing work saw them take out top spot in the Community category at the 2024 Queensland Resilient Australia Awards.
Hosted annually by the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience and Get Ready Queensland, in partnership with Suncorp, the awards celebrate the people helping make Queensland the most disaster resilient state in the nation.
