About

The Emergency Support Volunteering website is an initiative of Volunteering WA and Eduka Solutions with kind support by Volunteering Victoria and The Centre for Volunteering.

Volunteering WA is the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia, and through its role, strives to lead, advance, and celebrate volunteering in Western Australia.

Eduka is a technology leader in web-based volunteering recruitment and management solutions, partnering and working in this space for over 15 years.

Together, we recognise that Australians want to volunteer during times of crisis. This website serves as a platform to connect potential volunteers with organisations assisting people affected by emergencies.

How it works

  1. Register your details - submit your details to our emergency support list.
  2. Your details are passed along - we'll pass your details on to organisations in your area.
  3. Organisation contacts you - when available, the organisation will offer volunteer opportunities.

FAQ's for volunteers

Prioritising your safety and limiting the spread of the COVID-19 is the main priority. You must to adhere to the latest Department of Health instructions on how best contain the spread of COVID-19, both in the work environment and at home. If you are feeling unwell or are in one of the at-risk categories, please prioritise your own well-being and do not put yourself forward to volunteer.

Always follow the Department of Health guidelines around hand washing, sneezing/coughing into your arm or a tissue and practising social distancing. If you have any symptoms of illness at all, do not interact with any vulnerable members of your community.

If you register your details will be passed on to any organisations in your area that require assistance. If you have seen calls for help through other channels (e.g. social media) you can arrange this on your own. Please remember to ensure your health and safety is considered and understand that informal volunteering doesn’t afford the same level of protection as formal volunteering through an organisation.

No, there is no guarantee that your services will be required. Organisations that require assistance will contact people based on their current need. Often in emergency situations the organisations recruit from their own volunteer pool first.

Our recommendation to organisations is always to put the health and safety of the volunteer first. The extent of the emergency may require people to undertake tasks that they normally wouldn’t. You are under no obligation to volunteer and must determine the risk for yourself.

That is completely fine, we understand that situations change. If you no longer wish to be included you can contact us to have your name removed using the contact us form on the website.

That’s great. Please visit

where you will find lots of useful information on volunteering. While you’re there you can also search our online database for current volunteer roles.

FAQ's for organisations

We will give you a list of potential volunteers. If you are based in Victoria or New South Wales It will be your responsibility to match/recruit volunteers from the list provided to your volunteer positions. In Western Australia, Volunteering WA may be able to help.

Please contact us on this website and a team member will get back to you to discuss your requirements.

We recommend that you have both Volunteer Personal Accident and Public Liability insurance. Please check your policy closely as not all situations, particularly emergencies, are covered.

There are a number of different ways to do this depending on the size of your organisation and how many volunteers you have. Some use spreadsheets, google docs or customised databases. If you would like to use a software package we recommend VIRA software.

This will depend on the role being undertaken and the nature of the role. For example, there are specific requirements for people working with children or in some aged care facilities, or tourists and visitors to Australia.

Please refer to your organisations policy on volunteer checks which should address any specific requirements.

In the immediate “respond” phase of an emergency situation there is often not time to undertake a police check so you may have to make a risk assessment on the spot. Standard procedures should be followed where more time is available, such as in the extended “restore” and “recovery” phases of emergencies.

You need to ensure that all volunteers are aware and compliant with all relevant government guidelines for keeping people safe and well.