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Published works
Emergency volunteering 2030: Views from emergency response volunteer representatives
Title | Emergency volunteering 2030: Views from emergency response volunteer representatives |
Publication Type | Report |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | McLennan, B |
Document Number | 731 |
Date Published | 05/2022 |
Institution | Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC |
City | Melbourne |
Report Number | 731 |
Abstract | This report presents results from a qualitative survey completed by 72 representatives of emergency response volunteer groups and networks in Australia in 2018 and 2019. The purpose of the survey was to explore volunteer representatives’ views about changes in volunteering that have occurred in the past, key volunteering issues today, what a preferred future for emergency response volunteering looks like, and what needs to happen to move towards that future. The survey was administered by RMIT University researchers as part of a research study for the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC called Emergency volunteering 2030: Adapting the sector. ‘Adapting the sector’ is a foresight and scenario-planning study engaging with a wide range of stakeholders to identify the most important trends and uncertainties likely to shape the future of emergency volunteering, and to consider implications of alternative future volunteering scenarios for today’s decision-making. This report is one of a series of Environmental Scan reports that capture diverse stakeholder views of the current and emerging landscape of emergency volunteering. The research was approved and overseen by the RMIT University Human Ethics Advisory Network (project number CHEAN B 21057-08/17). Context Formal emergency response volunteering is a crucial and central component of the volunteering that supports communities before, during and after emergency events. The 250,000 odd emergency response volunteers form the bulk of the emergency response workforce in Australia. Emergency response volunteering is especially important in rural, regional and remote communities where volunteers provide many essential community services and where emergency response services are heavily, often entirely, volunteer based. Ensuring the long-term sustainability of Australia’s formal emergency response volunteer capacity is a key issue within the emergency management sector in the face of the changes and pressures in the modern landscape of volunteering. Many emergency management organisations are responding to the changing landscape with new volunteer strategies, models, and management practices but more needs to be done. This report endeavours to reinforce volunteer voices within current research, debates, and decisions regarding strategies for the future of emergency volunteering. Key implications of this research The implications provided here are first level observations prepared by the author. They are based on views that were gathered before the 2019/2020 Australian bushfire season began and before the COVID-19 pandemic. More complete implications will also be considered in conversation with key stakeholder groups.
Research approach This research primarily used a qualitative, key informant survey with 72 representatives from emergency response volunteer groups across Australia. The survey was administered online in late 2018 and early 2019. All participants represented volunteers from one of three general service categories: 35% represented Victorian Country Fire Authority volunteers (CFA volunteers), 31% represented fire service volunteers in other states and territories (including combined services), and 35% represented volunteers in other emergency response services, (including state emergency services or SES, ambulance, surf life saving, and marine rescue). |