About
A desire to help
Our aim is to connect people who have a desire to step up during times of crisis with organisations in their community coordinating a response.
Recovery following an emergency can take weeks, months or even years and is when volunteers can be the greatest help. That is why it's important to have a network of people ready to assist.
Anyone can become an emergency support volunteer and be part of your community's effort to recover in times of need. You don't need any specialist skills, just a hand in the air that says "I can help".
How you can help
Before an emergency
Subscribe for volunteering updates
We can then let you know if there is a request for community volunteers near you.
When an emergency is happening
Register your details
You can put your hand up for a specific campaign or there may be times when you can register to join a general pool of volunteers. You will be able to edit your details and opt out of any campaign you join if you are no longer available.
Volunteer when needed
When a certified organisation contacts us in need of volunteers, we will pass along details of those suitable. Once the organisation is ready, they will contact you to offer an opportunity to assist.
Donate physical goods or funds
Often in an emergency donations of physical goods are not required. To make a financial donation we suggest the Lord Mayor's fund or you may like to donate to a specific relief agency of your choosing.
Physical campaign specific donations will be listed on the campaign page.
Please note that agencies cannot accept food that you have prepared at home due to health and safety reasons.
Many businesses assist in emergency response and recovery in Western Australia by donating goods and services.
You can register donations at the Community Organised Resource Exchange (CORE) platform, initiated and operated locally by the Western Australian Council of Social Services (WACOSS).
Things to know
Recovery from an emergency is a long process. Organisations benefit from long term support from volunteers who may perform various roles from basic clean up to care, comfort and personal support to affected communities.
Things to know about registering as a non-frontline community support volunteer:
- We will refer potential volunteers, like you, to volunteer involving organisations when they request volunteer support.
- The organisation then coordinates the volunteer position, which can require varying levels of skills and experience, and flexibility in terms of location and availability.
- Responding to an emergency is complex and requires a high level of coordination.
- By far the biggest need for volunteers occurs in the recovery period - in the weeks, months and years following an emergency.
- Organisations should provide orientation for each position, and some have the capacity to provide training relevant to emergency response and recovery. If orientation and training are not being offered to you for a volunteer position you should determine whether or not you are comfortable continuing with the position.
About us
We appreciate that in times of need, Western Australians want to help. emergency.volunteer.org.au is managed by Volunteering WA, the peak body for volunteering in Western Australia.
Our role is to connect people to community groups who need help outside of formal frontline emergency services roles.
Volunteering WA is a member of the State Emergency Relief and Support Committee (SERSC) - Operations and works with fellow SERSC members year-round to prepare for and respond to state emergencies.
During times of crisis, Volunteering WA is activated by DFES and Department of Communities to support the community by recruiting volunteers and directing offers of gratuitous support from the community such as accommodation, food and clothing.
The Emergency Volunteering platform is funded by the Commonwealth Government with support from the WA State Emergency Management Committee and the WA Department of Communities, and built by our web partner Eduka
Eduka is a web app agency with a strong presence in, and passion for, the volunteering sector in Australia.
