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How you can help with the flood crisis in Queensland and NSW

There have been distressing scenes as Queensland and New South Wales are ravaged by catastrophic floods, with hundreds of rescues amid life-threatening situations.

Lives have been lost, tens of thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and many thousands of homes and buildings have been severely damaged.

Here is how Australians watching the crisis unfold can contribute to the mammoth recovery effort that lies ahead, whether that be through donating money, items or labour.

LIVE UPDATES: Roads crumbling as floods cause structural damage

Homes were inundated by flood water yesterday in Goodna, west of Brisbane.

How can I help?

The Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul Society have set up appeals to gather donations to go towards flood recovery efforts in New South Wales and Queensland.

St Vincent de Paul Society, more commonly known as Vinnies, has established two separate appeals for recovery efforts in each state.

Donations to Vinnies' NSW Flood Appeal can be made here.

Donations to Vinnies' Queensland Flood Appeal can be made here.

https://twitter.com/VinniesNSW/status/1498466523480231936?s=20&t=jcveYLWotiXOmkYv3WnJZw

The Salvation Army is taking donations for both states here, with the funds to be distributed to where they are most needed.

The organisation is hoping to raise $9 million for the cause and has vowed to donate a further $1 million itself.

The Salvation Army's Major Bruce Harmer has called on Australians to show the spirit of generosity that has been seen during past disasters across the country.

"We are calling again on the Australians to help us be there for the incredible number of people displaced by the floods. Please, if you are able, give to The Salvation Army's 2022 Flood Appeal," he has said.

Shoppers at Myer stores around the country can also donate to The Salvation Army's flood appeal at the checkout, as can customers at Woolworths stores in NSW and QLD from tomorrow.

What items are needed?

The organisation GIVIT has made a list of more than 68,000 items needed in the recovery efforts, with options for donors to send the items or pay for them to be purchased.

The organisation is strongly advising people not to send unrequested donations to impacted areas, noting that unrequested donations hinder recovery efforts by overwhelming charities.

Needed items include new pillows, sleeping bags, livestock feed, washing machines and a range of different vouchers.

See the list of items and donate here.

Locals in flood-affected areas have been generously donating items to relief centres that have popped up in towns.

Workers at some relief centres have also advised that they are receiving too many donations of things they do not need.

A volunteer at a Lismore relief centre has advised too many clothes are being handed in, whereas phone chargers, toiletries and blow up mattresses are in demand.

Lismore NSW floods

Physical help if you are in Queensland

Queenslanders are calling for a revival of the "Mud Army" of volunteers that helped clean up following the 2011 floods.

Brisbane City Council and Volunteering Queensland are calling for volunteers to sign up for the Mud Army 2.0 to help clean up Brisbane.

People can sign up to join the army or register to alert the army of where help is needed here.

There are currently only plans to establish a Mud Army in Brisbane, but Volunteering Queensland has urged people from other regions who want to volunteer to standby for further updates about volunteering groups.