Recruitment incentives are needed to boost the number of emergency services volunteers to respond to natural disasters and take the pressure off the ADF.
I keep seeing commentary saying that we shouldn’t use the ADF for disaster relief.
We have an organisation full of people with exactly the skills and organisation required that we maintain at great expense and barely use. Can someone give me a sensible explanation why it’s not a good idea to use them for disaster response.
On a second note I know for a fact that small scale politics and wasteful spending are endemic in volunteer emergency services. I’m not sure what reform is needed but something certainly is. I’m about to re-enter a volunteer fire brigade for the first time in years so I’m sure I’ll be full of opinions in a few months.
I disagree with the small scale politics. On small levels people tend to be leaner with their spending as they actually see it. On higher levels they look at the number of thousands or millions being spent rather than individual dollars. Though this probably changes depending on industry and region.
I’m on the fence regarding the ADF being used in times of need. On one hand if the ADF are tied up sorting out a natural disaster then they can’t perform their core function of protecting Australia’s borders, on the other hand we aren’t at war so why shouldn’t they help. If they were scaled up or to add a federal ‘ses’ (fes?) then I’d be onboard
I looked into volunteering for the local SES once (when I was looking for stuff to do with my life after uni) and they turned me down, so actually accepting people who are interested is something that might help with their numbers.
I wouldn’t usually say this, but same here. I spend three months of the year in a leadership position (with some operational requirements) with the a United Nations agency in disaster relief in South Asia (volunteer with some fringe benefits - meals, accommodation etc.). Have done so since 2004. Apparently I’m not of use to the SES (QLD). I’ll just keep ensuring that global disasters are managed appropriately whilst the experts back home keep everything going here.
I was in Brisbane for the local weather event. I contacted the SES again. Again, no use. Instead I personally contacted a few disability support organisations and arranged to fill sandbags and install them at their clients homes (I did over 30 homes). Interestingly, the SES and others were nowhere to be seen. Seems they could have used some assistance.
Local units have the responsibility for training all their new members, so if they receive too many applications (or they lack the capability to train new people) they will have to turn people away.
I volunteer with Disaster Relief Australia and worked alongside the ADF in Lismore. They often didn’t have the right tools for the job and we’d share our gear with them. If this is going to become the new norm they need a new approach to disaster management that is much more fit for purpose.
On the other hand, I genuinely think we’d all be better off if everyone was given two weeks paid service-leave each year to spend on a volunteer cause they’re passionate about. Everybody should feel secure enough donate their skills. There’s nothing more fulfilling.
Yeah, I use to volunteer a few hours each week back before I picked up more roles at work. It really does feel fulfilling when you know you’re giving back to the community. Would be great if there were provisions to allow more people to volunteer (outside of disaster response which already allows you to take a leave of absence for combat agencies in certain scenarios).
