World Red Cross Day

8 May is World Red Cross Day.

Each year on 8 May the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement marks World Red Cross Red Crescent Day by highlighting the role of its staff and volunteers in saving lives and assisting vulnerable communities around the world.

The day is extremely significant for the Red Cross, as it is the birthday of founder Henri Dunant.

Together for Humanity

The global theme of this years event is Together for Humanity.

The theme highlights the importance and power of partnerships by stressing the need for stronger local and global alliances in meeting todays growing humanitarian challenges.

Read more about how the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross are marking the day via the link below.

Since 1914 Australian Red Cross has been responding to the needs of Australians in suburbs and towns right across the country.

Through war, drought, flood and fire our volunteers have responded willingly and risen to the task with a passion and commitment that has become renowned. Its a reputation that is richly deserved, embodying the universal spirit of Red Cross.

For many volunteers, such as our emergency services teams, its a 24 hour a day, seven day a week commitment to helping people whose lives have been touched by tragedy or disaster. A fire destroys a family home... A bus carrying young children overturns on winding road... Floodwaters threaten a nursing home.

You can be sure that Red Cross volunteers will be there, offering practical assistance and support at any time of the day or night - no questions asked. Today we have more than 30,000 trained volunteers and deliver over 60 local programs and services around Australia mostly funded by public donation and corporate partnerships.

We are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the largest humanitarian organisation in the world with more than 97 million volunteers worldwide. We are independent of government and are without any political, religious or cultural affiliation.