Volunteer

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity where an individual or group provides services for no financial gain "to benefit another person, group or organization". Volunteering is also renowned for skill development and is often intended to promote goodness or to improve human quality of life.

Volunteering may have positive benefits for the volunteer as well as for the person or community served. It is also intended to make contacts for possible employment. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency rescue. Others serve on an as-needed basis, such as in response to a natural disaster.

If you want to help out in a crisis the best thing you can do is to get involved with an emergency service or volunteer organisation early. That way you will have the experience, training and essential skills to help out through your volunteer organisation in an emergency.

Emergency services volunteers are a vital component of a resilient and safe community. A volunteer gives up his or her time to save the lives of others, reduce the loss of property and environmental damage and support local community disaster and emergency awareness and preparation activities. Being a volunteer is also incredibly rewarding and provides a sense of well-being and belonging, personal improvement and achievement and the opportunity to give something back to your local community.

Those that volunteer know that the safety and well being of a local community is everyone’s responsibility. All community members are eligible to inquire about joining a local volunteer emergency service as there are a wide variety of roles and activities involved in operating an emergency services volunteer team. If you aren’t an emergency services volunteer you can help by supporting them and encouraging your local community to support their work. This includes preparing your own home and family for emergencies and disasters