ADRA Activates Emergency Plan in Response to Bushfires
ADRA Victoria
Published
The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia activated its National Emergency Management Plan in response to the Victorian bushfires in January.
One person died, over 700 structures, including 228 homes, were damaged or lost, and an estimated 15,000 livestock have died in fires that have burned 404,000 hectares of the state.
ADRA partnered with local Seventh-day Adventist churches and community members to respond to the crisis. The response included providing financial assistance to 113 households, emergency evacuation kits, and psychosocial support, as well as providing sports drinks and on-the-go snacks for responding Country Fire Authority (CFA) crews.
As of January 13, 650 emergency evacuation kits were prepared and distributed across the state: 450 from Wangaratta Seventh-day Adventist Church, 100 from the ADRA Op Shop Albury, and 100 from ADRA Ferntree Gully. The kits, which contain hygiene items such as towels, body wash, and toothbrushes, are being delivered to Wangaratta Seventh-day Adventist Church for distribution to those who have been evacuated.
“We have been so blessed by the way our ADRA projects have stepped up to help respond to this disaster,” says Naomi Vaotuua, ADRA’s Emergency Response Coordinator for the Victorian bushfires. “So many of these projects are supported and run by a local Seventh-day Adventist Church. These churches are connected to their community in such a beautiful way that in times of disaster, not only does the community band around these churches to support their response, but it also means we can see to people’s physical and emotional needs.”
“The bushfires were challenging, says Rebecca Auriant, ADRA’s Victorian director. “I met with farmers who had lost everything, were in shock with tears in their eyes. Nothing really prepares you when you hear their stories.
“Our team, who dedicated days and nights (and are still going) were trained in Psychological First Aid to assist farmers with financial grants and emergency relief. Our churches were right there as well - offering support of essential items requested by the relief centres.
“I remember thinking, God is opening doors for people to see our church in action. To show people that we really care. As my Grandad, Pastor Bill Otto, would say – ‘Christianity with its sleeves rolled up.’”
In the weeks that followed, ADRA volunteers made day trips to affected areas in Longwood, Yarck, Ruffy, and Alexandra to register impacted individuals for financial assistance and to provide Psychological First Aid (person-to-person support).
The psychological impacts of fires on communities can be just as severe as the physical losses, and having emotional support during those times can be critical.
“ADRA’s respectful and supportive approach helped build trust with community leaders, opening doors to communities in hard-to-reach areas,” says Vaotuua. “Strong prior relationships with local councils also led to requests for ADRA to provide psychological first aid and assist with cash registrations at official relief centres.”
John Smilek was part of the ADRA team sent to Alexandra and Yarck.
“We quickly connected with several families, registered those who needed help, and listened to their stories,” says Smilek. “Some had lost everything. I am grateful for the small chance to show up and support in any way we could.”
ADRA’s response was supported by Bunnings Nunawading, Follow Bless Collective, Feed One Feed All, Sanitarium, and Share the Dignity.
In late 2025, ADRA conducted National Emergency Response Team (NERT) training for volunteers in disaster-prone areas. Conducting training before a disaster strikes means that volunteers and staff on the ground feel equipped to respond in times of disaster. The Victorian NERT leadership has been involved in coordinating the response.
If your church wants to be involved in future emergencies, please to speak to Rebecca Auriant – ra@adra.org.au – about establishing ‘peace’ time activity, so that your church can be ‘Always Ready and Always There’ when needed.
To support ADRA’s response in times of disaster, please donate at adra.org.au/disaster
