Local Canberra charities to support this winter
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Looking to give back locally but not sure where to start?
From supporting women escaping violence to helping hungry Canberrans, protecting animals, and providing crisis support, Canberra is home to countless organisations doing life-changing work every single day.
No matter if you can donate money, volunteer your time, clear out your cupboards, or simply spread the word, every little bit helps.
Here’s a guide to some of the local charities and organisations supporting the Canberra community and how you can lend a helping hand.
ACT Pet Crisis Support
For many of us, pets are family, but unexpected vet bills can quickly become overwhelming. ACT Pet Crisis Support exists to stop pets from being euthanised simply because their owners can’t afford treatment, helping vulnerable Canberran’s access lifesaving veterinary care through financial assistance and their Tiny Vet Clinic.
Run entirely through volunteers, every donation goes directly towards helping local animals receive urgent medical care. It’s a lifeline for families doing it tough, while also keeping beloved pets where they belong: at home with the people who love them.
You can donate here.
ACT Wildlife
From injured kangaroos to orphaned possums, ACT Wildlife works tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife across the region. Their volunteers also educate the community about living alongside native animals and provide specialist wildlife care training.
If you’ve ever spotted a joey in care or watched a rescued bird return to the wild, you’ll know just how important this work is.
Donations help cover medical treatment, food, rescue equipment, and rehabilitation costs for Canberra’s native wildlife.
Australian Childhood Foundation
Focused on helping children recover from abuse, neglect, and family violence, Australian Childhood Foundation provides therapeutic support, education, and advocacy for vulnerable young people.
Their work is centred around ensuring children feel safe, heard, and supported, especially those who have experienced trauma.
Donations help fund direct therapeutic care and specialist support services for children and families who need it most.
Barnardos Australia
For over 100 years, Barnardos Australia has worked to support vulnerable children, young people, and families across the country. From foster care and adoption services to mental health support and education programs, their mission is to help children thrive in safe, stable environments. With one in six Australian children growing up in poverty, the need for early intervention and support has never been greater.
Whether through recurring donations, fundraising, or one-off contributions, every dollar helps vulnerable children access brighter futures.
Find out more and donate here.
Bosom Buddies
Volunteer-driven and deeply local, Bosom Buddies ACT provides personalised support for people affected by breast cancer throughout Canberra and surrounding NSW regions.
Founded after one woman rallied around a friend going through treatment, the organisation now offers emotional support, practical guidance, and community connection for patients and families navigating incredibly difficult circumstances.
All funds raised stay local and directly support free services for the community. Donate here.
Canberra City Care
Offering practical support with dignity, Canberra City Care helps locals experiencing financial hardship through affordable food, op shopping, community meals, tech support, and emergency assistance.
Their HandUp Food Store, ReRuns Op Shop, and CatchUp cafe space provide low-cost essentials and a sense of connection for people doing it tough. It’s community care in the truest sense of the word.
Donate here and make sure you select Canberra City Care from the dropdown options.
Canberra Community Law
Access to legal support can be life-changing, especially for people facing homelessness, domestic violence, or financial hardship. Canberra Community Law provides free legal and social work services for vulnerable Canberrans who may otherwise fall through the cracks.
Their team helps people understand their rights, access support services, and navigate difficult legal situations with dignity and compassion.
Donations here directly support access to justice for those who need it most.
Canberra Hospitals Foundation
Whether it’s funding specialised equipment, therapeutic programs, or comfort items for patients and carers, Canberra Hospitals Foundation helps make the healthcare experience a little more human. Supporting patients of all ages across Canberra Health Services, the foundation funds projects that improve wellbeing during some of life’s most difficult moments.
From recliner chairs for post-surgery recovery to accommodation refurbishments for regional families, donations have a direct local impact.
Canberra Refugee Support
Canberra Refugee Support connects local volunteers with refugees and asylum seekers to help them settle into life in Canberra. From assisting with housing and healthcare to helping build social connections, their work focused on practical ‘good neighbour’ support.
Run entirely by volunteers, the organisation also provides financial assistance for essentials like rent and living expenses. It’s about helping people find stability, safety, and community while navigating incredibly uncertain circumstances.
Find out more and donate here.
Canberra Resolution Service
Helping families, workplaces, and communities navigate conflict with compassion, this service provides mediation and support designed to preserve relationships and reduce the emotional toll of conflict.
Their work spans everything from family separation and youth homelessness prevention to workplace disputes and community mediation. Focused on strengthening connections and creating healthier outcomes.
Find out more or help donate to the cause here.
Canberra Street Cat Alliance
Across industrial areas like Fyshwick, Mitchell, and Hume, homeless cat colonies continue to grow, and the Canberra Street Cat Alliance is working to humanely reduce the population through fostering and trap-neuter-return programs.
Entirely donation-funded, the organisation accepts monetary donations, pet supplies, and even recyclable cans and bottles through their ‘Cans for Cats’ initiative. Every contribution helps provide care for cats and kittens across the region. Find what you can do here.
Communities at Work
As Canberra’s largest not-for-profit community organisation, Communities at Work supports locals through childcare, emergency relief, food support, clothing assistance, and community programs. Their services aim to alleviate hardships while building stronger, more socially connected communities.
Get involved here: they accept donations of money, food, and essential items to help ensure families continue receiving support when they need it most.
DVCS
Supporting anyone impacted by domestic and family violence in the ACT region, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service provides crisis support, advocacy, and safety planning for women, children, and families.
Leaving violence takes enormous courage, and DVCS helps people navigate that process safely. Donations allow the organisation to continue providing life-changing support to more Canberrans experiencing violence and abuse.
You can donate here.
Feel the Magic
Grief can be incredibly isolating for children, which is why Feel the Magic creates specialised support programs and camps for kids coping with the loss of a loved one. Their evidence-based programs provide safe spaces for children to process grief, connect with others, and build emotional resilience.
Best of all, families can access these services at no cost thanks to community support and donations.
Find out how you can support Feel the Magic here.
GIVIT
Want to know exactly where your donation is going? GIVIT allows you to donate directly towards specific requests and appeals, from domestic violence support to disaster recovery and essential household items.
You can donate money, goods, time, or ongoing monthly support, making it one of the most flexible ways to give back. It’s a practical, transparent model that connects donors directly with people in need.
You can donate here.
Hands Across Canberra
Hands Across Canberra acts as the ACT’s community foundation, supporting hundreds of local charities and grassroots organisations through grants and long-term funding initiatives.
Focussed on keeping community money within the community, they help smaller charities access resources, funding, and support they may otherwise struggle to secure.
Supporting Hands Across Canberra means supporting more than 350 local organisations doing important work across the region. Find out more and donate here.
Heartley Lifecare
Supporting people with disabilities and their families for more than 60 years, Heartley Lifecare provides supported accommodation, care services, and community connection across the ACT.
Originally founded as a therapy and learning support service, Heartley has grown into one of Canberra’s most established disability support organisations, now assisting clients in more than 30 homes.
Donations help improve the quality of life, independence, and long-term care opportunities for local families. You can volunteer or donate here.
HelpingACT
Built on the idea of creating a more compassionate Canberra, HelpingACT supports families facing financial hardship through food hampers, household items, hot meals, and practical assistance.
Their work helps people impacted by domestic violence, refugee settlement challenges, and rising cost-of-living pressure access essentials with dignity.
Donate here to support a grassroots community that directly helps our locals.
Karinya House
Supporting pregnant women and mothers facing homelessness, violence, or social isolation, Karinya House provides housing, casework, wellbeing programs, and practical support tailored to each woman’s needs.
Their work is grounded in compassion, dignity, and community care, helping women build safer futures for themselves and their children.
Donate here to help ensure these critical services continue to be available around the clock.
Karralika
For 45 years, Karralika Programs has supported individuals, young people, and families navigating alcohol and drug dependency across the ACT and surrounding regions.
Their person-centred programs focus on recovery, rehabilitation, and long-term support, helping people understand the causes behind substance use while building healthier futures.
Donations help expand specialist treatment and support services for the community.
Lifeline Canberra
For more than 50 years, Lifeline Canberra has provided 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services through the 13 11 14 helpline. Alongside donations, their famous Bookfairs and Book Lovers Lane store help raise essential funds to keep the phones staffed and volunteers trained.
It’s one of Canberra’s most beloved charities, and one that saves lives every single day. You can support Lifeline Canberra by donating here.
Menslink
Focused on supporting young men and boys across the Canberra region, Menslink offers mentoring, counselling, and educational programs completely free of charge. Their work helps young people navigate health challenges, relationships, school pressures, and life transitions with support and connection.
Donations ensure these no-cost programs remain accessible to everyone. You can find out more and donate here.
Missionheart
Located in the city on Genge Street, Missionheart offers meals, coffee, conversation, blankets, and practical support for people experiencing hardship or homelessness. Sometimes, having somewhere warm and welcoming to go can make all the difference.
Donations and volunteers keep their doors open for Canberrans in need of religious connection and care. Find out more here.
Palliative Care ACT
With EOFY approaching, Palliative Care ACT has launched an appeal to help fund 365 Nights of Care at Leo’s Place, a Canberra respite home that provides free respite stays for people living with life-limiting illness and their carers.
The organisation is aiming to raise $55,000 before 30 June to help cover accommodation, meals, staffing and wellness activities that make Leo’s Place possible.
Find out more or donate here.
Orange Sky
Laundry and showers might sound simple, but for people experiencing homelessness, they can be life-changing. Orange Sky Australia partners with local organisations to provide free laundry facilities, showers, and non-judgmental conversation.
Their Canberra service creates safe, welcoming spaces where dignity and connection come first.
Donations here help keep the vans running and services available across the community.
OzHarvest
Australia’s leading food rescue organisation, OzHarvest saves surplus food from landfill and delivers it to charities helping feed people in need. With food insecurity at record heights, their work has never been more important.
You can donate here, every dollar donated helps provide meals for people facing hardship while also tackling food waste, a win for both people and the planet.
Ronald McDonald House
When a child is seriously ill or injured, staying close to family matters. Ronald McDonald House ACT provides accommodation, emotional support, and practical care for families with children receiving medical treatment.
Their services help reduce stress during incredibly stressful times, ensuring families can focus on what matters most: being together.
Find out more or donate here.
Rise Above
Providing financial relief for local cancer patients and families, Rise Above helps ease the pressure that often comes alongside treatment.
From medication and petrol vouchers to electricity bills and wellness support, their assistance helps patients focus on recovery rather than financial stress.
Supporting locals for over 40 years, all donations stay within the Canberra and Queanbeyan region.
Roundabout Canberra
From cots and prams to warm clothes and toys, Roundabout Canberra provides essential baby and children’s items to families in need across the region.
Every donated item is cleaned, safety checked, and carefully packed by volunteers before being distributed through social workers and local support services.
With demand continuing to rise, donations, whether financial or physical items, make a huge difference for local families. Find out what you can do here.
Red Shield Appeal
Run by The Salvation Army, the annual Red Shield Appeal supports Australians facing homelessness, addiction, family violence, and financial hardship.
Locally, donations help fund support services, emergency relief, housing assistance, and crisis care for people doing it tough.
It’s one of Australia’s longest-running charity appeals, and one that continues to make a huge impact within the Canberra community.
Find out more and donate here.
RSPCA ACT
Every year, thousands of animals rely on RSPCA ACT for shelter, medical care, rehabilitation, and rehoming. Supported by staff, volunteers, foster carers, and the broader community, the organisation works tirelessly to improve animal welfare across the ACT.
You can donate here to help provide food, treatment, enrichment, and safe homes for abandoned or neglected animals.
Share the Dignity
Periods shouldn’t be a luxury, and Share the Dignity is working to ensure nobody has to go without essential menstrual products. Supporting women experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or financial hardship, the organisation distributes period products through charities, refuges, hospitals, and community vending machines across the country.
Donations help keep these services accessible to those who rely on them. Find out more here.
St John Ambluance ACT
For nearly a century, St John Ambulance ACT has supported the Canberra community through first aid training, emergency support, and community programs.
Funds raised through donations and training help power initiatives like First Aid in Schools, CBR NightCrew, and programs for seniors, ensuring vital health and safety education reaches everyone in the community. Learn more or donate here.
Toora Women Inc
For more than 40 years, Toora Women Inc has supported women impacted by domestic violence, homelessness, trauma, and substance dependency.
Their services focus on helping women rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and agency. Through housing, support programs, and advocacy, Toora continues to create pathways towards long-term stability and community connection.
You can support them by donating here.
UnitingCare Kippax
UnitingCare Kippax supports vulnerable individuals and families through emergency relief, parenting programs, educational support, and case management services.
Focused on reducing the impacts of poverty and disadvantage, the organisation also helps people reconnect with education, training, and employment opportunities. Their work is deeply community-driven and centred around long-term impact.
Donate here.
Vinnies Winter Appeal
As winter bites and cost-of-living pressures continue rising, St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn is once again calling on Canberrans to support the annual Vinnies Winter Appeal.
Funds raised help provide emergency food relief, bill assistance, housing support, and essential items for people at risk of homelessness or poverty across the ACT and surrounding region.
With EOFY approaching, donations of $2 or more before 30 June are tax-deductible, and every contribution helps provide dignity, relief, and hope during the coldest months of the year.
Donate to the Winter Appeal here.
Wombat Rescue
Dedicated entirely to the protection and rehabilitation of bare-nosed wombats, Wombat Support and Rescue NSW/ACT works across the Capital Region rescuing injured and sick wombats, treating mange, and raising awareness about one of Australia’s most beloved native animals.
Donations help fund emergency road rescues, mange treatment programs, rehabilitation efforts, and public awareness initiatives aimed at protecting local wombat populations. Find out more here.
YWCA Canberra
For more than 90 years, YWCA Canberra has supported women, girls, and families across the ACT through housing services, domestic violence support, youth programs, and community advocacy.
As a feminist not-for-profit organisation, their work focuses on creating safer, more equitable futures for women and young people in Canberra.
Donations here help expand critical support services and community programs across the region.
Feature image: Communities at Work. Supplied.
