OPERATIONAL
EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
Calling all volunteers with a bloody good attitude to work and desire to help others!
Disaster Relief Australia continues to respond to recovery efforts post disaster, right across Australia. Whether its floods, fires, cyclones, or drought- DRA teams are willing to get in the field to help communities get back on track post disaster.
To streamline our processes a singular operational EOI will be current for all active operations. You will be able to select your preferred operation in this EOI. Each wave is up to 7 days, and will likely include a travel day each side. Can’t do 7 days? Don’t worry, you can select preferences and parameters in your EOI.
BEFORE YOU DEPLOY
If you are a DRA Member, Check your Muster profile is at Deployment Ready, all skills and qualifications are up to date and emergency contact details are correct.
If you are a new volunteer, please sign up via our New Member EOI portal.
Remember to keep your tetanus injections up to date (ideally within the past 5 years). Done that? Then you are all set to throw your hat in the ring to be selected for a DRA Operation.
If you need a hand with your Muster profile, just let us know in the EOI and we can help you out! Before you get on the ground, we ask all DRA members to complete the Online Core Operations Course. This course can be accessed via the DRA Training Portal and is designed to help you prepare for your deployment and know what to expect on DRA ops.
Please also you are up to date with all Safe Work Method Statements which can be found HERE.
WHAT IS COVERED WHEN YOU DEPLOY?
- Meals, barracks style accommodation and PPE will be provided by DRA
- DRA transportation from designated RV zones to the Forward Operating Base
- Flights from major airports (operation budget dependent)
WHAT IS NOT COVERED
Taxis, ride-share, airport parking or private transport to/from designated RV zones. Sorry, no home pick ups.
HEALTH & SAFETY
Everyone has Legislated Health and Safety “Duty of Care” to:
- take reasonable care for their own health and safety;
- take reasonable care to ensure they don’t affect the health and safety of other people, for example, other volunteers, members of the public or clients they may be assisting;
- comply, so far as they are reasonably able, with any reasonable instruction that is given to them by the DRA organisation; and
- co-operate with any reasonable policy or procedure that the DRA organisation has provided to them.
Insurance Cover for Volunteers:
Volunteers are volunteers and not employees of DRA. This means they are not covered by workers compensation. Their first recourse of injury cover is Medicare and/or DVA. Any out of pocket expenses not covered can then be submitted through DRA’s Volunteer Insurance Policy.
COVID VACCINATIONS
In accordance with the nationwide relaxation of COVID-19 vaccination mandates, DRA is removing the pre-deployment requirement for members to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Members who are currently symptomatic will be prevented from deploying and DRA will continue to strictly enforce isolation and testing of members with COVID-symptoms during operations.
DRA continues to recommend that all members be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza, due to the proven public health and personal safety benefits.
DRA will also continue to monitor the public health situation and revise internal policies accordingly.
FITNESS
Ask yourself this: Are you physically and mentally fit for task? This is hard work and can be emotionally confronting working in communities with residual trauma that comes with living through adversity.
You will be working for up to 7 days straight sometimes in austere conditions. Be honest with yourselves! Please read through the requirements for operations as questioned in the EOI, and make sure you fit the parameters. As you can imagine, we need to look after safety of self as we provide service to those in need. The last thing any of us want is to inadvertently make a situation worse. Therefore you will see there are strong fitness guidelines around DRA deployments.
Your submission of an Expression of Interest (EOI) and acceptance of any Joining Instructions are making legally binding declaration of:
- Your fitness to work, and your own psychological and physical readiness to deploy;
- Your commitment to carrying sufficient personal medically prescribed medicines; and
- If any circumstances arise that change these declarations, that you will advise of the change ASAP.
FINAL NOTE
Please remember that submission of an EOI is not a guarantee of attendance. Check your spam and junk folders for missing communications! You may be contacted by the Mobilisation Team for further information.
Thank you so much for your interest in getting in the field with Disaster Relief Australia! If you have specific questions, drop an email to:
WELLBEING PROJECT DEPLOYMENT SURVEY
When you submit an EOI for deployment commencing after 16 November you will automatically be enrolled to participate in DRA’s Wellbeing Deployment Surveys. If you choose to participate a survey link will be sent to you daily for 14 days around the time of your deployment. Each survey will take approximately 1-to-2-minutes to complete.
The surveys are part of DRA’s Wellbeing Project, which is extremely important to DRA and your participation would be greatly appreciated; however, should you choose to opt-out you can do so when your first survey link is sent to you (it will include an option to opt-out).
Read full details about the Wellbeing Project on the DRA member’s website at https://members.disasterreliefaus.org/wellbeing-project/
Op Jensen – Fitzroy River (WA) Flood Recovery
OPERATION NAME: Op Jensen
LOCATION: Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley Region WA
STATUS: APPROVED
WAVE DATES:
- Wave 1 – 11 Sep to 30 Sep 2023
BACKGROUND:
In January 2023, the Kimberley region experienced flooding from heavy rainfall caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. This rainfall caused the Fitzroy River to reach a record-high peak of 15.81m. Roads and bridges were destroyed, and homes and businesses were inundated. Fitzroy Crossing (FX) is the main township in the affected area which is located 5 hours by road from Broome.
The flooding affected several remote Aboriginal communities and family-owned pastoral stations, as well as a number of Non For-Profit organisations and charities.
After consultation with key local stakeholders and an assessment of existing and available infrastructure, DRA intends to begin recovery work to assist in the affected communities.
DURATION:
Due to the remote location, this operation will run as one extended wave over 20 days (dates above).
TASKS:
Flood recovery tasks including mucking out of buildings, debris removal, mould treatments & cleaning.
PRIORITY:
Due to the location and logistical challenges associated with this location, WA members who are Deployment Ready and available for the entire duration will be given priority for this deployment.
SPECIFICS:
Due to the remoteness of accessing these areas, the nature of the work and the austere conditions we are seeking volunteers who are physically capable of working in these hot, humid and remote conditions to consider submitting their EOI.
Volunteers must be willing to adhere to a NO ALCOHOL POLICY as these areas of operation include dry communities.
A high level of cultural sensitivity is to be considered while working in these communities.
EOI Status: EOI’s are now CLOSED for this operation
For any questions, please contact mobilisation@disasterreliefaus.org