The pandemic is not over. People hit hardest need more support

About half of us believe life won't be back to normal this time next year. And around two in five admit they need more support to cope with, and recover from, the coronavirus pandemic.

More than a year in, it is beginning to hit home that COVID-19 is a long-term proposition - on top of the fires, floods and cyclones which are increasingly a part of Australian life. The Australian Red Cross is seeing communities draw on levels of resilience we haven't previously needed to.

We know people in Australia are generous. An astounding majority (90 per cent) believe we must look after the most vulnerable - the elderly, those with mental health concerns, and those who simply don't have the support networks, capacity, or resources to get through this.

Red Cross teams are at the ready to continue providing that support. In fact, demand for our services since the pandemic hit is higher than at any time since World War II.

Our Red Cross volunteers have made more than 239,461 wellbeing calls, providing psychological first aid, information and services to over 95,166 people across the country in quarantine and self-isolation.

This companionship and support cannot be underestimated for those experiencing anxiety brought about by an extended period of isolation.

Every single one of those phone calls, or other instances of outreach, is making a small but significant difference to the life of someone in a vulnerable situation.

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We've helped around 150,000 people on temporary visas who had no access to mainstream support, including reaching over 30,000 people through food parcels. This meant people on temporary visas were able to get food on the table and buy essential medications.

As COVID-19 has come to light, we have reached over 630,000 people with important information to help them seek support, translated into 18 languages.

In disaster-affected locations, like in Victoria this month, our emergency teams continue to provide psychological first aid, help conduct humanitarian needs assessments, and get communities started on the long road to recovery, all as the pandemic continues.

As part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation, we fundamentally believe that no one should be left behind. This era more than ever has underlined our collective vulnerability: as the World Health Organization says, none of us is safe until all of us are safe.

None of our work is possible without the generous support of our community, whether people are donating time and expertise through volunteering or making a financial donation. As the end of the financial year approaches, Red Cross is asking Australians - those who have the means - to consider making a tax-deductible donation to redcross.org.au.

It means we can continue to deliver services around the clock, no matter what crisis this country faces.