A thriving and diverse volunteer workforce is essential to build resilience of Australian communities to natural hazards. To help volunteer leaders build effective skills that support volunteers across the country, researchers at Curtin University have created a new toolkit full of helpful and engaging resources.
Natural Hazards Research Australia and Curtin University launched the Volunteer Leader Toolkit in an online event for volunteers and their leaders across the country. Support Your Volunteers: Volunteer Leader Toolkit Launch presented a new online package of resources aimed at current or aspiring volunteer leaders.
The resource kit comprises three modules full of evidence-based, interactive and engaging videos, documents and activities that were developed in partnership with emergency service volunteers and their leaders:
- Module 1: Recruiting
- Module 2: Onboarding
- Module 3: Leading
The modules can be used as a full support package or users can choose the elements of each module most in need of improvement within their brigade, group or unit. Access the resource kit here.
Moderator: Dr Blythe McLennan, Natural Hazards Research Australia
Presenters: A/Prof Patrick Dunlop and Hawa Muhammad Farid, Curtin University
Date and time: Tuesday 31 May, 1pm AEST/11am AWST
Who should attend? This was an open event but those who will find it especially helpful are volunteer leaders/managers, volunteer personnel and volunteers themselves
The Toolkit is the result of five years of Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC research conducted in collaboration with volunteers and emergency services. It is designed to help leaders learn more about how to better recruit volunteers, support new volunteers, and retain current and future volunteers through effective leadership.
Note: The Toolkit is not intended to replace the existing information provided by emergency service agencies, but rather to support the existing strategies where there might be gaps or topics that can be improved with research-backed resources. All of the resources can be adapted by volunteer leaders to fit existing internal portfolios or training units.
Watch the full recording of the launch below.