Our thoughts are with the families and communities involved in the New South Wales and Queensland flood emergency.
Many people have reached out to us and the State and Territory volunteering peak bodies to ask how they can volunteer to help those affected by these devastating floods.
Recovery is long-term and determined by the needs and readiness of those impacted by the disaster. Volunteers will provide an essential workforce for recovery and rebuilding, which will be long-term, so your offer of assistance is welcomed and may be needed in the future.
Here’s how you can help right now and into the future:
- Check in on family, friends, neighbours and your local community and look after yourself first.
- To help the first responders and those directly affected by the floods you can donate to a national, state or local authorised, recognised disaster support agency. See useful links below.
- Refer to trusted sources, including local councils and formally recognised emergency services agencies. Their websites and social media provide essential, up-to-date information on the disaster situation and when, where and what help is needed.
- Consider volunteering for volunteer involving organisations in your local community that will support the long recovery and rebuilding process. Your help will be needed when the immediate danger has past and affected individuals and communities are ready to ask for and receive assistance. By volunteering locally you strengthen your own and your community’s connectedness, disaster resilience and preparedness.
- The Centre for Volunteering (NSW) and Volunteering Queensland are taking Spontaneous Emergency Volunteer registrations now. See updates below.
Update from The Centre for Volunteering (NSW)
We know there are a lot of amazing individuals and organisations looking to lend a hand during the current NSW floods. The state of emergency is still ongoing and our amazing emergency services are at full capacity supporting those affected. During this time please do not contact emergency services to ask questions about volunteering. Once the state of emergency has ceased there will be a call for recovery volunteers.
Keep up to date
All the latest updates on volunteering and the NSW flood emergency can be found at The Centre for Volunteering’s website.
Pre-register as an emergency volunteer in NSW
The best course of action for individuals looking to help is to pre-register your interest in volunteering for disaster recovery organisations.
Update from Volunteering Queensland
As many people across Southeast Queensland are starting to assist with the enormous clean-up, we encourage self-activating volunteers offering their assistance to others in need to follow the principle of “do no harm”.
Always:
- Ask if help is needed
- Listen to and respect the wishes, privacy and emotional wellbeing of those impacted
- Wait to be invited onto properties
- Remember not to touch or throw out people’s belongings without their permission for you to do so
Please be mindful that those affected by the disaster need to be ready for help and to receive the right help at the right time for them.
Volunteer efforts work best when coordinated in a safe way for both the person receiving assistance and the volunteer.
Volunteering Queensland is currently working with several Councils in flood impacted regions to support the coordinated response of volunteers.
Keep up to date
All the latest updates on volunteering and the Queensland flood emergency can be found at the Volunteering Queensland website.
Register as an emergency volunteer in Queensland
To register your willingness to assist and to stay informed of opportunities to volunteer please register with Volunteering Queensland’s EV CREW.
Useful Links
Like many people watching from afar it can be hard to know how to help, so we have included some links below to find out more about how you can support communities in flood-affected areas.
- GIVIT
- Queensland Fire & Emergency Services
- NSW State Emergency Service
- Australian Red Cross
- Vinnies
- The Salvation Army
- Foodbank – NSW
- Foodbank – Queensland
