2020 Australian
Bushfire Response

$1,000,000

Committed by the Waislitz Foundation to renew and rebuild communities that were impacted by this tragedy.

January 2020

Responding to Crisis

The 2019–2020 Australian bushfire season — known as Black Summer — was one of the most devastating natural disasters in the country's history, burning over 46 million acres, destroying thousands of homes, and taking the lives of both people and wildlife.

In response, the Waislitz Foundation made a $1 million commitment to support affected communities, directing funds toward immediate relief efforts and long-term recovery programs through trusted partner organisations on the ground.

Kangaroo among burnt trees after the bushfires
Smoke through burnt forest
Landscape recovering after bushfires
Fund Allocation

Where the Funds Went

$500K

BlazeAid Donation

$250K

FRRR Partnership

$250K

Community Grants

$500,000

BlazeAid

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation that works alongside families in rural Australia after natural disasters such as fires and floods, helping to rebuild fences, structures, and local communities. Volunteers work in disaster-affected areas for many months, lifting the spirits of people often facing their second or third crisis after years of drought.

The Waislitz Foundation directed $500,000 to fund new trailers for volunteer teams, enabling BlazeAid to reach more communities faster.

"Not just rebuilding fences, but helping rebuild lives."

BlazeAid volunteers rebuilding fences in rural Australia
BlazeAid trailer supported by Waislitz Foundation
Burnt fence post in fire-affected farmland
Rural landscape recovering after bushfires
$250,000

Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal

The Waislitz Foundation partnered with media company ACM to provide $250,000 to the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), financing recovery projects in communities affected by the devastating Black Summer bushfires.

The donation was distributed via the bushfire recovery stream of FRRR's Strengthening Rural Communities program, offering grants of up to $25,000 for local projects — including repair of fire-damaged infrastructure, mental health and wellbeing support, alleviation of volunteer burnout, economic development initiatives, and events to bring affected communities together.

As co-owner of media company ACM, Alex Waislitz saw firsthand the challenges fire-affected communities face and felt privileged to help them rebuild their lives and local connections.

"By supporting a range of different grassroots, community-led initiatives through the FRRR, we can help these local communities renew and strengthen for the future."
— Alex Waislitz

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