Emergency Services Volunteer - Katherine

Locations are available across metropolitan and regional areas.

This is an ongoing volunteer role with the flexibility to choose how and when you volunteer.

You will need to complete the minimum training requirements, including approximately 9 hours of online learning and practical training in Psychological First Aid.

Basic computer literacy is essential.

Why volunteer with Red Cross?

• Ideal for people who cannot commit to regular volunteering.
• Gain new experiences, skills and knowledge.
• Contribute to Red Cross Emergency Services by supporting communities before, during and after emergencies in a variety of roles.

The program

Red Cross has been responding to emergencies and providing humanitarian assistance in Australia since 1914.

We are committed to strengthening and extending our emergency aid services to assist Australians in preparing for, responding to and recovering from emergencies.

As part of our Emergency Services team, you will join a group of more than 900 trained volunteers ready to assist locally and across the state in times of emergency.

Our work includes supporting communities, groups and individuals to prepare for emergencies, as well as assisting with emergency response and disaster recovery. We also work with a range of stakeholders to provide training in psychological first aid, emergency response, emergency management and recovery.

The opportunity

Red Cross provides a range of support to communities at risk of disaster or that have experienced an emergency.

We work with communities:

• Before an emergency, assisting with individual and community preparedness.
• During an emergency, providing support in welfare and relief centres and through our emergency phone line.
• After an emergency, assisting communities as they move through the recovery process.

We are looking for people who are willing to be trained to provide this type of support within their communities.

Volunteers are required to maintain their training so they are ready to respond when needed. This is not a predictable volunteering opportunity, as emergencies can occur at any time. However, you will have the flexibility to decide when you volunteer and which activities you would like to be involved in.

This flexibility also applies to our ongoing preparedness and recovery work. Opportunities may include community events, meetings, administration support, training and facilitation. You will be notified as opportunities arise.

Your commitment

• Upfront training in Psychological First Aid Skills, either a 5-hour webinar or 1 day of face-to-face training.
• 10 mandatory e-learning modules, taking approximately 9 hours to complete.

As a volunteer, you will

• Join a local team that forms part of a larger network of locally based teams.
• Have opportunities to participate in preparedness, response and recovery activities.
• Develop skills that enable you to provide psychosocial support, training programs and community development services within your community and beyond.

Successful volunteers are

• Open to working with all members of the community, sometimes during very challenging circumstances.
• Strong interpersonal, listening and communication skills.
• Able to communicate in a respectful, sensitive and supportive way.
• Comfortable working as part of a team.
• Committed to maintaining their skills and knowledge.
• Computer literate.

The impact

As a Red Cross Emergency Services Volunteer, you will have a direct impact within your community.

Whether you are providing personal support through Psychological First Aid to people affected by emergencies, helping communities prepare for or recover after a disaster, or supporting training and operations, you will be making a real difference.

Red Cross will provide training, ongoing support and access to other opportunities within the organisation.

Application requirements

For this role, you will be required to undertake a National Police Check organised through Red Cross.

You will also need to hold, or apply for, a Working With Children Check or Working With Vulnerable People Check, depending on your state or territory. Red Cross can assist you with this process.

Further information

To find out more about this opportunity, please contact Reena Pandey on 0436 922 573 or email rpandey@redcross.org.au.

Thank you for considering volunteering with Red Cross.

You can also explore Red Cross career opportunities at https://www.redcross.org.au/careers/.