Emergency Volunteering

As tempting as it is, just showing up at a relief or recovery centre and offering your services can impact in an adverse way upon staff and residents who are dealing with or who have been impacted by the emergency event.

After a natural disaster people often believe that the only volunteers required are those that can offer labour for cleaning up. But this is not the case.

When recovering from natural disaster volunteers may be required to assist with:

• administration by helping to register and coordinate volunteers, at recovery centres collecting requests for help and assisting impacted residents
• sorting and distributing donations 
• supporting relief centres with catering, cleaning and providing assistance as directed for impacted residents
• caring for livestock or repairs to animal enclosures  (including fencing)
• clean up of impacted properties.

Entering an area that has been impacted by an emergency is dangerous.

Volunteers should ensure that they wear/utilise personal protective clothing and equipment applicable to the task or environment (this may include enclosed shoes, dust masks and safety goggles).

Please note that in an declared emergency area, access to equipment, even basic cleaning equipment will be limited.

Please consider what you may be able to bring to assist with your tasks. Depending on the type of emergency event and the work that you have volunteered to assist with the following may be required:

• food and drink (bring plenty of water)
• cleaning equipment including brooms, buckets, mops, old rags, gloves and cleaning chemicals
• gardening equipment (gloves, shovels and wheel barrows).

If you are able to provide large equipment and have the correct ticket/safety training (if required), please include this information in your registration details.

The information collected about you is not disclosed without your consent to other organisations or businesses. The exception to this is when it’s permitted by law, for example the State Government or Federal Government may require the information of volunteers for statistical or other purposes.

As a volunteer you must ensure that you don’t discuss or disclose the information that you find out about impacted residents. The amount of information that you will find out will vary depending on the role you are undertaking.

Council and Council Volunteers must comply with the Information Privacy and Data Protection Act 2014.

What’s expected of me when I volunteer?

As a volunteer in post emergency recovery operations it’s expected that you will:

• support the work of the team
• be flexible and reasonable in accommodating team requirements where possible
• treat those in need, other volunteers and workers with respect and courtesy
• be open, honest and fair in your volunteer role
• take responsibility for your own health and safety and not put at risk the health and safety of others
• participate in training, briefings or coaching necessary to your voluntary duties
• take responsibility for staying informed
• use information gained in the course of your volunteer work with sensitivity and discretion and observe confidentiality and privacy requirements
• help to maintain a harmonious workplace and recognise the value of diversity.

What should I do if I’m asked for a media comment?

Under no circumstances should you discuss any issues with members of the media. There will be clearly designated staff responsible for this function to ensure that a consistent message is communicated on to the media.

If you need help contact the volunteer coordinator.

How do I claim out of pocket expenses?

Prior to incurring any expense, you must first gain approval for the expenditure from the volunteer coordinator.  You should then submit any claims promptly using the appropriate claim form.