Articles and Guides

Practical guides on zakat and Islamic giving, family support in Sydney, volunteering, homelessness and our social enterprises. Everything here is written to be genuinely useful, whether you are looking for help or looking to give.

Our Story

• From a Castle Hill Garage to Revesby: The House of Sadaqa StoryHouse of Sadaqa began in a Castle Hill garage in 2010. The story of how it grew into a Sydney charity running family support, homeless outreach and its own businesses.
• What Makes House of Sadaqa Different From Other CharitiesA focused mission, local delivery, and businesses that fund the work rather than repeated appeals. What sets House of Sadaqa apart, and where it has limits.
• The 2030 Vision: Building a Charity That Does Not Need DonationsHouse of Sadaqa is working toward covering its running costs through business income, so donated money can go directly to families. What that means in practice.
• 19 Tonnes a Month: Inside the International Clothing Aid ProgramSince 2013 a shipping container of clothing has left Sydney every month for Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and Africa.

Zakat and Islamic Giving

• Is Zakat Tax-Deductible in Australia? What You Need to KnowZakat given to a DGR-endorsed charity in Australia is tax-deductible. Here is how it works, and how House of Sadaqa distributes your zakat to local families in Sydney.
• What Is Sadaqah Jariyah? A Simple Guide to Giving That Keeps GivingSadaqah jariyah is ongoing charity that keeps rewarding you long after you give. Learn what it means, examples, and how to give it in Australia through House of Sadaqa.
• How to Calculate Your Zakat: A Simple Step by Step GuideZakat is 2.5% of wealth held for one lunar year above the nisab threshold. A step by step guide to working out what you owe, with a worked example.
• Who Can Receive Your Zakat? The Eight Categories ExplainedThe Qur’an names eight categories of people eligible to receive zakat. Here is what each one means and how it applies in Australia today.
• Zakat vs Sadaqah: What Is the Difference?Zakat is obligatory, calculated and restricted to eight categories. Sadaqah is voluntary, any amount, to anyone. Here is how the two differ and how they work together.
• When Is Zakat Due? Your Zakat Date ExplainedZakat is due once your wealth has stayed above nisab for one lunar year. How to set your zakat date, why it moves each year, and what happens if you miss it.
• Can I Give My Zakat Locally in Australia?Yes. Zakat can be given locally, and many scholars encourage prioritising need in your own community. Here is what hardship looks like in Sydney.
• Zakat al-Fitr in Australia: What It Is and When to PayZakat al-Fitr is a small obligatory charity paid by every Muslim before Eid prayer, on behalf of each member of the household. What it is and when to pay it.
• What Is Waqf, and How Does It Work Today?A waqf is an endowment held permanently, with only the returns spent on charitable work. How a 1,400 year old model works in modern Australia.
• Ramadan in Sydney: Meaningful Ways to Give BackPractical ways to give during Ramadan in Sydney, from calculating zakat to volunteering, and how to make generosity last past the final ten nights.
• Eid Giving: Sharing the Joy With Families in NeedEid is harder for families who cannot afford new clothes or a proper meal. Practical ways to share the day, from Zakat al-Fitr to gifts and volunteering.
• Muslim Charities in Sydney: How to Choose Where to GiveHow to assess a Muslim charity in Sydney, what to verify before giving, the questions worth asking, and where House of Sadaqa fits.
• Sadaqah: Why Small Acts Count More Than You ThinkSadaqah has no minimum and is not limited to money. Why consistent small giving often does more good than occasional large gifts.
• Building a Fund That Lasts: Waqf and Ethical InvestingHow a waqf endowment is invested, what Shariah-compliant investing screens out, and why a charity would hold capital rather than spend it.
• Ways to Give: Every Way You Can Support House of SadaqaDonate, give zakat, volunteer, clear a fine, donate goods, or simply switch a purchase. Every way to support House of Sadaqa in one place.

Family Support and Crisis Help

• Facing Hardship in Sydney? How the Family Support Program Can HelpHouse of Sadaqa’s Family Support Program helps Sydney families in crisis with essentials, whitegoods and emergency relief. Here’s who it helps and how to request support.
• How to Refer a Family for Emergency Help in SydneyA guide for caseworkers and community workers on referring a family to the House of Sadaqa Family Support Program, what we can provide and what to include.
• Leaving Domestic Violence: Practical Help to Restart a HomeLeaving is only the first step. Practical information on the support available in Sydney to help set up a safe home again, and where to turn for help.
• Emergency Whitegoods and Furniture Help for NSW FamiliesWhere families in NSW can get help with a fridge, washing machine, beds or furniture during a crisis, including charity programs and government assistance.
• Struggling With Bills? Where Sydney Families Can TurnPractical options for Sydney households behind on bills, rent or fines, including hardship programs, free financial counselling and where to get material help.
• Supporting Local Families in Bankstown, Revesby and CanterburyHouse of Sadaqa is based in Revesby and works across the Canterbury-Bankstown area. What we do locally, where to find us, and how to get involved nearby.

Volunteering, WDOs and Fundraising

• How to Clear Your NSW Fines With a Work and Development Order (WDO)A Work and Development Order lets eligible people in NSW clear Revenue NSW fines through community work and courses. Here’s how it works and how House of Sadaqa can help.
• Volunteer in Sydney: Ways to Give Your Time With House of SadaqaVolunteer in the Revesby warehouse, on Clothe the Homeless runs, or at our op-shops. No experience needed, no minimum commitment, and WDO hours accepted.
• Work and Development Orders: Am I Eligible?Who qualifies for a Work and Development Order in NSW, what counts as hardship, which activities are approved and how to apply through a sponsor.
• Corporate and Group Volunteering in SydneyBring your workplace team, school group or community organisation to volunteer with House of Sadaqa in Sydney. What groups do, group sizes and how to book.
• What to Expect on Your First Volunteer DayNervous about your first volunteer shift? What actually happens, what to wear, how long it takes and what nobody tells you beforehand.
• The Charity Winter Plunge: Why We Jump Into Freezing WaterEvery winter, supporters plunge into freezing ocean water to raise money for families in crisis. How the event started, how it works, and how to take part.
• Start a Fundraiser for House of Sadaqa: A Simple GuideTurn a birthday, a run, a haircut or any challenge into support for local families. How peer to peer fundraising works and how to raise more than you expect.
• The Ansar Youth Program: Supporting Young Men in SydneyA structured program for young men in Sydney, built around mentorship, belonging and practical involvement in community work.
• Three Years of the Charity Winter Plunge: What $94,980 Tells UsEvery figure from three years at Mahon Pool, and what the data shows about what makes fundraising work.
• The Women’s Winter Walkathon: 16 Kilometres, Two Days, $16,491 RaisedA women-only sponsored walk across two days, and why teams outperform individuals.
• Do You Qualify for a WDO? The Six Pathways, Not Just Financial HardshipMost people assume a Work and Development Order is only for financial hardship. There are six separate eligibility pathways, and you only need to meet one.
• How Much Fine Debt Can a Work and Development Order Actually Clear?A Work and Development Order clears up to $1,000 of NSW fine debt per month. Here is how the cap works, why doing more activities does not raise it, and how long clearing a debt realistically takes.
• Can a Work and Development Order Clear Court Fines?Court fines can be included in a Work and Development Order, but interstate fines and company fines cannot. Here is what a WDO covers and what it does not.
• What Counts as Voluntary Unpaid Work Under a WDO?Voluntary unpaid work is the most common WDO activity. Here is what qualifies, who supervises it, how hours are recorded, and what the work actually looks like day to day.
• WDO, Payment Plan or Write-Off: Which One Applies to You?Three different options exist for unmanageable NSW fine debt, and they suit very different situations. A plain comparison of WDOs, payment plans and write-offs.
• What Happens If You Cannot Finish Your WDO Hours?Life gets in the way of WDOs all the time. What actually happens if you miss shifts or stop, and why telling your sponsor early matters more than anything else.
• How to Find a WDO Sponsor in SydneyA WDO has to go through an approved sponsor. Who can be one, how to find one near you, and what to ask when you make contact.
• Clearing Fines While Experiencing Homelessness: How a WDO WorksHomelessness is one of the six WDO eligibility pathways in its own right. What that means if you have no fixed address, and how to apply without one.
• Can Mental Health Treatment Count Toward Clearing Your Fines?Medical and mental health treatment is an approved WDO activity, and a mental health condition is an eligibility pathway. Treatment you are already receiving may count.
• Three Ways to Volunteer at House of Sadaqa: Ordinary, Work for the Dole, or WDOThe same warehouse shift can be ordinary volunteering, a Work for the Dole placement, or Work and Development Order hours clearing fine debt. How the three differ.
• Do You Need a Working With Children Check to Volunteer?The paperwork question that stops people before they start. For volunteering with House of Sadaqa, a Working With Children Check is not required.
• How Old Do You Have to Be to Volunteer in Sydney?House of Sadaqa volunteers are 18 and over, or younger when accompanied by a parent or guardian. What that means for families, students and school leavers.
• Volunteering With No Experience: Where to Actually StartYou do not need a qualification, a skill set or a cause you can articulate. What first-time volunteers are actually asked to do, and why nobody expects expertise.
• How Much Time Do You Actually Need to Give to Volunteer?People assume volunteering means a weekly commitment forever. It does not. How much time is genuinely useful, and why irregular help still counts.
• Work for the Dole at a Sydney Charity: What the Placement Is Actually LikeHouse of Sadaqa hosts Work for the Dole placements. What the work involves, how referrals happen, and what to expect on the first day.
• Volunteering With Your Family: Bringing Kids AlongUnder 18s can volunteer with House of Sadaqa when accompanied by a parent or guardian. What family volunteering looks like and how to make it work.
• Student Volunteering: Hours, References and What You Get Out of ItFor students needing community service hours, a reference, or something real on a thin resume. How to approach volunteering so it actually counts.
• What Warehouse Volunteering Actually InvolvesAn honest description of the work: what a shift looks like, how physical it is, what to wear, and why the unglamorous tasks are the ones that matter.

Homelessness and Outreach

• Rough Sleeping in Sydney: What the 2026 Numbers ShowThe 2026 NSW Street Count recorded 2,308 people sleeping rough statewide, up 5%. Inner-city Sydney fell 15%. What the data says and what it means on the ground.
• Clothe the Homeless: How Our Martin Place Outreach WorksEvery month our volunteers set up at Martin Place with clothing, sleeping bags and essentials. How the outreach runs, and how to join one.
• What to Donate to a Homeless Outreach (and What Not To)The items homeless outreach services genuinely need, the ones that get thrown away, and why socks and underwear top every list.
• How to Help Homeless People in Sydney This WinterPractical ways to help someone sleeping rough in Sydney, what to do if you are worried about a person, and how to give in a way that actually helps.
• Why Sleeping Bags Matter: Winter Essentials on the StreetA sleeping bag is the single most valuable item you can give someone sleeping rough in a Sydney winter. Why dry matters more than warm, and what else is needed.
• Sleep in Your Car 2026: One Night in a Car, So a Family Doesn’t Have ToThe sponsored sleep-out returns on Friday 16 October. What it is, and what year one achieved.
• Living in a Car: The Homelessness Nobody CountsFor families, homelessness usually means a vehicle, not a doorway. Why it happens and what helps.

Our Social Enterprises

• Shop for a Cause: How Our Social Enterprises Fund Family SupportFrom bamboo toilet paper to NBN internet, House of Sadaqa’s social enterprises turn everyday purchases into support for local families. Here’s how shopping gives back.
• Goodwill Connect: NBN Internet for Sydney That Gives BackGoodwill Connect is an NBN provider for Greater Sydney that gives 100% of its profits to local families in need. Unlimited data, no lock-in contracts, Sydney-based support.
• Ethical Internet Providers in Australia: What to Look ForWhat makes an internet provider ethical, the questions to ask before switching, and how to check the claims providers make about where their profits go.
• How to Switch NBN Providers Without the HassleSwitching NBN providers is simpler than most people think. Here is the step by step process, what to check first, and the one mistake that causes downtime.
• What Is a Charitable ISP, and How Does It Actually Work?A charitable ISP is an internet provider owned by a charity, directing profits to a cause instead of shareholders. Here is how the model works and how to verify the claims.
• NBN Speed Tiers Explained: Which Speed Do You Actually Need?NBN has renamed and upgraded its speed tiers. Here are the current tiers, what each one suits, and why typical evening speed matters more than the advertised maximum.
• Panda Paper: The Bamboo Toilet Paper That Funds FamiliesPanda Paper is premium 100% bamboo toilet paper delivered plastic-free across Sydney, and 100% of its profits go to House of Sadaqa to support local families.
• The Goodwill Laundry: Self-Serve Washing in Bankstown That Does GoodA self-serve laundromat in Bankstown with machines up to 37 kg, card-only payment and eco-friendly detergents, where profits support local families in need.
• Inside the Goodwill Shop: Sydney’s First Muslim Op-ShopThe Goodwill Shop was the first op-shop of its kind in Sydney’s Muslim community. What you will find in Bankstown and Revesby, and where the money goes.
• What Is a Charity Social Enterprise? The House of Sadaqa ModelA charity social enterprise is a business owned by a charity, trading to fund its mission. How the model works, why charities build them, and how to check the claims.
• Where Your Internet Bill Actually Goes With Goodwill ConnectMost internet profit ends up with shareholders. Goodwill Connect states 100% of its profits go to local charities. What that means for a bill you already pay.
• Goodwill Connect vs the Big Telcos: An Honest ComparisonA fair look at where a charitable NBN provider wins, where the big telcos still win, and how to decide without pretending the trade-offs do not exist.
• Switching Internet Providers: What Happens to Your Connection, Number and PlanThe practical worries that stop people switching NBN providers: downtime, phone numbers, exit fees and equipment. What actually happens.

Sustainability and Donating Goods

• Where to Donate Preloved Clothes in SydneyWhat House of Sadaqa accepts, where to drop items off in Sydney, and why sorting before you donate genuinely matters to charities.
• Bamboo vs Regular Toilet Paper: The Environmental DifferenceHow bamboo toilet paper compares with tree-based and recycled paper on growth rate, land use and waste, and what actually matters when you switch.
• From Landfill to Lifeline: How Your Donations Get a Second LifeFollow a donated item from drop-off to a family’s home. How sorting works, what gets sold, what gets given away, and why reuse beats recycling.
• How Buying Secondhand Helps Families and the PlanetSecondhand shopping keeps textiles out of landfill, makes essentials affordable for households on tight budgets, and funds charity work. Why it is worth the browse.
• What The Goodwill Shop Accepts: New and Near-New, ExplainedThe Goodwill Shop takes new and near-new items only. What that actually means, the six situations most donations come from, and why the standard exists.
• Unwanted Gifts and Regret Purchases: The Easiest Donation You Will Ever MakeThe thing still in its box in the spare room is exactly what a new and near-new op shop wants. Why unwanted gifts and regret purchases make ideal donations.
• Closing a Business or Clearing Excess Stock? Donate It Instead of Dumping ItExcess shop stock and leftover inventory from a closing home business are among the most useful donations an op shop can receive. How it works in Sydney.
• Deceased Estates: Donating a Loved One’s Things With DignityClearing a home after a death is heavy work. What a new and near-new op shop can take, what it cannot, and how to approach it without pressure.
• Do You Pick Up Donations? The Honest AnswerA straight answer to the most common question charities get asked: no, House of Sadaqa does not collect furniture or used goods. Here is why, and what to do instead.
• Where Your Op Shop Donation Actually Ends UpWhat happens between dropping something at the counter and it funding a program. The honest path a donation takes through a charity-owned social enterprise.
• Donate, Council Cleanup or Landfill: Choosing the Right OneNot everything should be donated, and treating a charity as a free tip costs it money. A practical way to sort what goes where.
• Used Clothing and Furniture in Sydney: What to Do When an Op Shop Cannot Take ItA new and near-new shop cannot take worn clothing or used furniture. That does not mean landfill. Practical routes for goods that still have life in them.
• Where to Drop Off Donations in Revesby and BankstownHouse of Sadaqa has two Goodwill Shop locations in south-west Sydney. Where they are, what to bring, and how to make the trip worth it.