Australia's fires - How can we respond?

As a business and a community of people, Illumin8 has been in shock at the ferocity of the fires that have been ravaging our country.

We’ve felt helpless, knowing that the little we might be able to do wont make up for the tragic amount that has been taken away from people in the affected communities.

However at a time like this, we can choose to ignore the typical things that separate us; where we come from, what we do for a living, what music we listen to, what car we drive and anything else that we might use as a tool to create a divide between one another.

The beauty that emerges from this despair is the unification of our communities supporting one another.

Right now, I only see two types of people:

• Those who need help
• Those who can help

It's not hard to know what camp you sit in. 

As accountants and business advisors, we aren’t all that good with a fire hose. Lifting heavy things (for most of) is not on our list of key attributes. And as much as we see ourselves as being for the people, counselling those in a time like this requires qualities that few possess.

BUT - that doesn't mean we shouldn’t do something to help.

This morning, we gathered together as a team and discussed what our response can be.

Being skilled in the area of business, and knowing that a significant number of businesses in the region will be suffering, our team came up with this small solution.

Illumin8 will be providing free advisory services to businesses that have been directly impacted by the fires. Including:

• Providing advice on where you can seek financial support
• Communicating with the Tax Office to ensure relief is provided
• Bookkeeping work to get your books up to speed whilst you deal with other, more important things
• Cashflow forecasting to help you understand where your needs lie, and what decisions you can do to push forward
• Being available to chat as and when you need it, at no cost

Whatever we can do with our skills, we will do.

We are offering the above services to 10 businesses impacted during the Victorian Bushfires.

If you, or someone you know will benefit from this, please get in touch with us. 

Best way to get in touch is to

• Fill out this quick form
• Shoot me a direct message
• Send us an email - [email protected]

To our clients & community. We also ask that you look at what you have in your hands and see that there can be immense value, even if for just one person, if you can find a way to do something, anything.

The fallout from the recent events will last for some time, and if we gather together we can make one heck of an impact.

We also ask that you be understanding if we are a little slow to assist in the coming weeks, as we will be dedicating time to help those who get in touch.

Much love!

Andrew

The humans from Illumin8 have also committed to donate funds to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal through a combination of donating our social fund for the next 6 months (no more parties for us), a 2.5k donation, and team members contributing a % of their wage, to be matched dollar for dollar by Illumin8.

We hope that our small gesture can help those who need it the most.