Emergency Services Volunteer Team Member - VIC

The program 

Australian Red Cross Emergency Services has been responding to disasters and providing humanitarian assistance in Australia since 1914. We are committed to strengthening and extending our emergency services to all Australians to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. As part of our Victoria Emergency Services team, you will join a group of 500+ volunteers across Victoria ready to assist locally and across the state.

The impact 

The Emergency Services program aims to assist individuals and communities before, during and after a disaster. Whether you are providing personal support (Psychological First Aid) to people affected by disasters, helping communities prepare for or recover from a disaster or supporting training and operations, in all these roles, you will be making a real difference.

The strength of Red Cross lies in our volunteer network, community-based expertise, and our ability to represent the interests of communities. By improving humanitarian standards, working as partners in development, responding to disasters and supporting healthier and safer communities; we help to reduce vulnerabilities and strengthen resilience.

This is an exciting opportunity for anyone looking to use their time and experience learn from many people’s diverse history and knowledge, as well as feeling the satisfaction of giving back to others.  

The opportunity

Red Cross volunteers play a vital role in supporting communities before, during or after disasters. As a Red Cross Emergency Services volunteer, you will have the opportunity to support communities through community preparedness, providing support in emergency relief centres, or during recovery. You will have the flexibility to choose how and when you volunteer your time.

Role Responsibilities 

Team Members can decide which areas of work within Victoria Emergency Services they would like to engage in. See below for details. 

Preparedness and Resilience 

• Delivery of EmergencyRedi workshops to support community members to prepare for disasters. 
• Promotion of Red Cross preparedness tools at community events or community activities 

Response / Activations 

• Provision of Psychological First Aid (PFA) 
• Registrations in Emergency Relief Centres for Register.Find.Reunite. 

Recovery       

• Supporting communities post disaster by providing PFA at Recovery Hubs or at key community meetings or via outreach 
• Attending Community Recovery activities to provide PFA as required and promote the work of Red Cross. 

 General 

• Uphold and promote Australian Red Cross humanitarian values and Fundamental Principles 
• Deliver Australian Red Cross services before during and after emergencies. 
• Contribute to building and maintaining a strong and collaborative environment in your division by supporting your Divisional Leadership, other Red Cross people and partner agencies to reach our common and legislated goals: helping people before, during and after emergencies. 
• Attend a minimum of three team meetings a year.  
• Team member may be rostered to attend:  
  • Emergency activations as required or  
  • Community events or  
  • Preparedness activities and workshops. 
• Understand and work within the operations requirements during operational activities. 
• Work collaboratively with other agencies and community members in activities and exercises. 
• Promote and contribute to a safe working environment in line with work health and safety principles and policies. 
• Maintain your personal contact information and availability on our Rostering Events Deployment System (REDS). 
• Uphold Australian Red Cross’s principles as a Child Safe organisation. 

We are looking for people who: 

• Have a passion to volunteer with a humanitarian organisation.
• Can work effectively as part of a team.
• Have personal experience in managing stressful, emotional and/or adverse situations.
• Understand and respect privacy, confidentiality, and appropriate professional boundaries.
• Have strong communication and interpersonal skills and are reliable.
• Can work with people from diverse cultures, age group and backgrounds.
• Confident in managing stressful, emotional, and adverse situations. 
• Administration skills including basic IT skills and a willingness to learn new online systems and platforms. 
• Demonstrated ability to be flexible, adaptable, and collaborative. 
• Must be able to attend to at least three (3) local team meetings per year.
• Must be over 18 years of age at time of application.

Requirements:

• Upfront commitment to our minimum training requirements which includes 9 hours online learning and practical training in Psychological First Aid.

Your commitment: 

• Training in Psychological First Aid (1.5-hour online module and 6-hour webinar or in-person workshop)
• Mandatory e-learning modules (x10) – approximately 9-10 hours to complete.
• Complete onboarding within 3 months (Police Check, Working with Children Check, mandatory training)

Application requirements

• You will be required to undertake a National Police Check, which will be organised by the Red Cross. 
• The role will also require you to hold or apply for a Working with Children Check for Victoria. Red Cross can assist you to apply for this check.

Further information 

To find out more about this opportunity please contact the team via email vicesworkforce@redcross.org.au

Thank you for considering volunteering at Red Cross. We also have great career opportunities, please visit our website at www.redcross.org.au/careers