Become an emergency services volunteer
There are more than 85,000 emergency services volunteers across Victoria who play a vital role not only in a crisis, but every day of the year.
Get involved early
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.
Most volunteering organisations have a checking process to protect volunteers and the people they will be working with. Read our section on Volunteer background checks to find out more.
There are plenty of volunteering opportunities in emergency services organisations and most offer induction, training, and skills development to make sure you are well prepared to help in a crisis.
There are a number of key volunteer organisations involved in emergency management and response.
Select a topic to find out more:
- Ambulance Victoria
- Australian Red Cross
- Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
- Country Fire Authority
- Country Women's Association of Victoria
- Life Saving Victoria
- Lions Australia
- St John Ambulance Australia (Vic)
- Salvation Army
- Victoria State Emergency Service
- Wildlife Victoria
More information about the responsibilities of agencies in the event of an emergency can be found in Part 7 of the Emergency Management Manual Victoria.
Ambulance Victoria
Ambulance Victoria provides pre-hospital care and medical transport (by road and air) for patients in medical emergencies. Their key role in a crisis situation is to triage casualties and provide medical care, and lead the Health Incident Management Team.
Ambulance Victoria also trains Community Emergency Response Teams (CERTs), volunteers who are 'first responders' in communities where the nearest ambulance branch is at a distance. CERTs provide basic emergency care until an ambulance arrives.
See Ambulance Victoria – Volunteering
Australian Red Cross
The Red Cross provides immediate and practical help to people experiencing crisis.
During an emergency, Australian Red Cross volunteers work alongside emergency services to help affected people and provide personal support. They also help to reconnect families separated by an emergency.
The Red Cross raised more than $15.4 million through the Victorian Floods Appeal 2011.
See Australian Red Cross – Volunteering
Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
The Australian Volunteer Coast Guard is an organisation composed entirely of volunteers, with the aim to promote safety in the operation of small craft through education, example and examination.
The Volunteer Coast Guard lead marine search and rescue operations in an emergency.
See Australian Volunteer Coast Guard – Victorian Flotillas
Country Fire Authority
Country Fire Authority (CFA) is a volunteer and community based fire and emergency services organisation. CFA is one of the world's largest volunteer emergency service and community safety organisations.
There are more than 1,200 CFA fire brigades across Victoria, who respond to bushfires, house fires, industrial fires, road accidents, rescues and other emergencies.
See Country Fire Authority – Volunteer with CFA
Country Women's Association of Victoria
The Country Women's Association works across Australia to improve the conditions for women and children and make life better for families, especially those living in rural and remote Australia.
They perform an important role in assisting in emergencies, crises and natural disasters, making craft items and preparing packs to assist those affected by disaster, and by raising funds to help families who need financial support following an emergency.
See Country Women's Association of Victoria
Life Saving Victoria
Life Saving Victoria works to prevent death and injury in Victorian waters. They provide education, rescue, training, and risk management services.
In an emergency, Life Saving Victoria provide both professional and volunteer beach based patrolling, including aerial surveillance, and assist the Water Police. Clubrooms at Life Saving clubs are made available as emergency evacuation centres.
See Life Saving Victoria – Join a club
Lions Australia
Lions Clubs are an active part of community life, providing services and raising money for a vast variety of projects important to their communities.
Lions play an important part in emergency support, by providing direct help as members of the local bushfire brigade or SES, helping out as tradespeople in rebuilding efforts and providing food, clothing and a friendly face to emergency workers. They also raise money to help local communities recover from an emergency.
See Lions Australia – Emergency Response
St John Ambulance Australia (Vic)
St John Ambulance Australia is primarily responsible for providing first aid delivery and community first aid training. St John has trained over 200,000 Victorians in first aid skills.
In an emergency, St John provide response and resources such as mobile first aid vehicles, first aid/first responder trained teams, advanced casualty management teams and communications.
See St John Ambulance Australia (Vic) – Extraordinary roles available
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army Emergency Services (SAES) teams assist in crisis and disaster situations nationally and internationally.
In an emergency, SAES provides food services to victims as well as to the SES, emergency services and their support staff. They also provide support services to help people affected during a crisis, such as providing emergency accommodation, transport and material needs such as bedding and clothing.
See Salvation Army – Emergency services
Victoria State Emergency Service
The Victoria State Emergency Service (SES) is a volunteer based organisation. They are the lead agency when responding to emergencies such as floods, storms and earthquakes, and they operate the largest network of road rescue in Australia. Volunteers also assist police with search and rescue operations.
In an emergency, SES leads the rescue of people in danger and plays an important support role during major bushfires.
Wildlife Victoria
Wildlife Victoria is a not for profit, volunteer based organisation that provide a 24 hour, 7 day a week wildlife rescue and information service.
Wildlife Victoria has trained volunteer disaster response teams that can be called upon at any time to assist in wildlife rescue emergencies such as bushfires and oil spills.