About DRA

Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is a veteran-led disaster relief non-profit organisation. We unite the skills and experience of military veterans with first responders and civilian volunteers to aid disaster recovery operations around the world. We bridge the gap between returning veterans, their home communities, and much needed relief services. While disasters are our business, veterans are our passion.

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Our story

DRA has steadily gained traction since its inaugural mission to Proserpine in 2017. We integrated veterans with emergency services specialists in a cyclone recovery effort and demonstrated a unique capability to help communities recover from disaster. Since then we have built an army of passionate volunteers that serve global communities before, during and after disasters.

DRA is proud to have been awarded the 2023 Australian Charity of the Year. The Award recognises DRA’s unique capability and capacity – through its Project Resilience initiative and Big Map exercises – to help communities prepare for future disaster events.

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Our impact

Since 2016, DRA has grown Australia-wide with more than 2,500 volunteers and 10 local Disaster Relief Teams. Our unique capability has seen us deploy globally to provide the greatest service, relief and impact to disaster affected communities.

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Disaster recovery operations and service projects

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Volunteer hours logged

About DRA Icons $10m+

In-kind value returned to communities

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Work orders completed

DRA Bushfire recovery 

Our mission, vision and purpose

Mission To unite the skills and experience of military veterans with emergency services specialists to deploy disaster relief teams in Australia and around the world in the wake of disasters.

Vision To be the pre-eminent disaster relief organisation in the Asia Pacific, and in doing so, change the narrative around what it means to be a veteran in Australia.

Purpose By preparing for and responding to disasters, we provide veterans the opportunity to grow beyond their military service. Disaster relief has proven to be a powerful tool to help veterans transition back into society and their local communities.

Our values

DRA’s culture and history is unique. We are dedicated to the service of communities in need and to each other. We are governed on values that place high worth on leadership, maturity, integrity, teamwork and determination. We believe veterans have unique skills and experience that can be harnessed to assist disaster affected communities. We also recognise veterans have an ongoing desire to serve others, and that through service they can grow beyond their time in the military.

Courage

We act without fear or favour in the best interests of the communities we serve and each other.

Mateship

We assume the best about those with whom we serve. Stridently, we look after each other and the community – mate first, self-second – always.

Endurance

We know that beyond the next hill is a river and beyond the river another hill. Yet we will march undaunted until we reach those who need us.

Service

We serve without expectation of personal gain, recognition or reward.

Tenacity

We bring order to chaos with a fierce blend of determination, flexibility and grit.

Respect

We act with every possible kindness and humanity, and no matter what, hold ourselves to a higher standard. Be respectful. Be respected.

Coraki Disaster

Who we serve

When disaster strikes, DRA works hard to help the most vulnerable in need alongside local agencies and governments. We look for grassroots initiatives where community members, particularly the poorest and most marginalised, have determined priorities and participate at every level of project implementation. By focusing on underserved or economically challenged communities we seek to make the largest impact possible.

Disasters carry substantial financial costs. By delivering relief efforts with no direct expense to the communities we are working with, we can support their journey towards recovery.

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About DRA

Governance

Disaster Relief Australia is governed by its Corporate Governance Framework and the Disaster Relief Australia Board. The Board comprises six members who jointly oversee the role of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The CEO has responsibility for daily management of the organisation and Executive Team who advise on key strategic and operational matters.

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Key resources

Discover a range of valuable Disaster Relief Australia resources, including annual reports, essential insights and policies that support our unique organisation.

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2020-2021 Annual Report

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2019-2020 Annual Report

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2020-2024 Strategic Plan

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Latest News

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Awards, News, News & media, Volunteer

DRA wins 2023 Australian Charity of

Disaster Relief Australia has claimed the 2023 crown as Australian Charity of the Year. DRA received the top honour via The Australian Charity Awards announced in late September. This year’s […]

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Volunteer

DRA wins Australian Charity Award for

We are excited to announce that Disaster Relief Australia has been recognised for an Outstanding Achievement in The Australian Charity Awards 2022. This is the third consecutive year that DRA […]

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Volunteer

Lismore resident and owner of the

With lessons learned from 2017, Debra thought the upstairs of her store was well protected against rising waters. She was wrong. The 2022 Northern Rivers flood hit hard. Her premises, […]

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