Get involved with an emergency volunteering agency

Australia has 18 different emergency volunteering agencies contributing in different ways when extreme weather events hit. They are all working hard to involve young people who are motivated by causes such as climate change.

 

Some groups take a while to get involved in as they have training requirements, whereas others are experimenting with a more spontaneous approach to involve volunteers when big events happen. 

 

Some groups desperately need new volunteers (like the SES in Queensland and a whole host of rural and regional bushfire brigades).

 

Other groups like most urban bushfire units are chockers and can't handle new people. So you need to do a bit of leg work to find the right group for you.

 

We suggest two ways that you can work out which group you might want to get involved with.

 

Step 1.  Check out the eighteen different emergency volunteering agencies at the AEMVF national website to find out which appeals to you most.

 

 

 

 

Step 2. Check out the volunteering agency in your state, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering NSW, Volunteering WA, or even Seek Volunteering to see what positions are available around the country. Just search for 'emergency' and look out for Australia's top 18 emergency volunteering organisations.

 

If you take time to learn about the issues and build your core skills, you will fast-track your involvement once you're ready to commit.

 

If an extreme weather event does happen, having logged your readiness will give you a leg up if you want to help your chosen emergency volunteering agency quickly.  This will fast track your application as you can provide some key information about yourself and have the certificates all ready to go.

 

 

When a big event occurs (maybe even in your neighbourhood)

When Aceh and Cyclone Larry happened, tens of thousands of Australians compassionately reached out to offer their help. Dentists, builders, nurses, tradespeople and just ordinary Australians with good hearts and good skills offered to get involved.

Unfortunately, it can be difficult to spontaneously involve large numbers of people who are unaffilialted with response agencies and whose skills have not be formally verified. This verification is essential because liability arises with accidents that occur under emergency situations - and there are many of these.

 

Australia's challenge is to gradually increase the numbers and capabilities of volunteers who are 'good to go' when increasing climate change impacts hit our shores and our neighbours. But our exising emergency NGOs are strapped for resources and the need to expand the volunteer base is a challenge.

 

By knowing your readiness; getting ready to survive 72 hours, building core skills, and joining an emergency NGO, YOU can play an important role in growing our nation's capacity and contributing to emergency response efforts.