Today's Update [Monday 23 Feb 2009]:

• Our Chaplains have mainly been involved in the Kinglake & Kinglake West areas today
• Over the weekend we surpassed 600 deployment days on the fire ground with over 105 Chaplains involved since the crisis began from most states in Australia.
• On average each Chaplain has had 23 contacts per day which equals 14 000 people who have had our Chaplains assist with defusing their trauma!!!
• We have had a referral rate of 2% which represents 276 people referred to other agencies.
• We are receiving numerous referrals from Red Cross, Department of Human Services and other agencies requesting our Chaplains to support.
• As the crisis moves from relief to recovery our chaplaincy team numbers are reducing but we are so thankful to our team who continues to serve from Victoria, NSW & WA
• Please pray for those communities tonight who come under new or renewed threat of fire
• Please pray for rain to extinguish all remaining fires across Victoria. 

Thank you to those who have given financially to support our efforts !!

Please consider what you can continue to give as we hope to fund  5 full-time chaplaincy positions in the areas affected for the next 12 - 18 months.

The communities affected by the bushfire urgently require the following goods and supplies in new or good condition.

They urgently need:

• cooking equipment, utensils, crockery, cutlery, etc 
• personal hygiene products
• feminine hygiene products and makeup
• baby care products such as strollers, prams, carriers/slings and nappies
• fencing, tools
• toys, soft toys, recreational equipment

Please drop all your goods donations to the nearest Community Relief Centre:

• View the latest Relief Centre list here - Click Here

Thank you for making a difference.

Chaplaincy Australia is fully backing the victims of the bushfires by providing financial, moral and material support. Any donations are welcome.

The best possible way to donate is by direct debit into our bank account or online via the Australian Christian Church's World Relief fund (see below).

Direct deposit	ACC World Relief Online Donations

We are excited to announce the addition to the training courses provided by Chaplaincy Australia: Certificate IV in Christian Chaplaincy  & Pastoral Care.