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As communities are struck by disasters each year, our preparation and response efforts are continuous. From challenging field activities to support and specialist roles, there are many ways to get involved and join Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) help those in need.
Become a volunteer
Volunteering rewards in many ways. It expands your skills and experience, is a way to stay active and engaged in the community and enhances employment prospects. Our Disaster Relief Australia volunteers also find that helping others through relief and recovery operations gives them a sense of purpose and improves their wellbeing.
With Disaster Relief Teams in every state and territory, you can volunteer in your local area or express interest in deploying on national and international operations.
Military veterans, emergency responders and motivated civilians all join in and deploy on operations with Disaster Relief Australia. If you are committed to serving those in need, there is a spot for you on the team.
Work with us
Our work helping communities before, during and after disaster is continuous. To meet our growing requirements, we have a range of career opportunities for those who thrive in a dynamic environment and are ready to serve those in need.
Other ways to help
There are many ways to make a positive contribution and bring hope to others. As a veteran led not-for-profit community cause, Disaster Relief Australia exists through the combined generosity of volunteers, corporate partners, donors and fundraisers.
Partner
Partners are essential to DRA’s ongoing disaster relief operations. Our work will never be complete so we will always seek to establish partnerships with similar organisations.
Learn moreDonate
Your donation to Disaster Relief Australia supports our army of volunteers respond to disasters. It provides them with the tools and resources to help recovery efforts.
Donate nowFundraise
By fundraising on behalf of Disaster Relief Australia, you are helping grow our capacity to deploy volunteers and support recovery operations after disasters.
Learn moreVolunteering FAQs
From office administration to hands-on disaster clean up and recovery work, there are many options for volunteers. By indicating your preference, we can tailor training to enhance your skills and future employment opportunities.
Volunteering on operations is both challenging and rewarding in ways you wouldn’t expect. You’ll dig deep, get dirty and work hard, yet bring hope and relief to communities in need, help people on some of their worst days, and meet likeminded volunteers with a united sense of purpose. Our volunteers say their deployments have been life-changing and incredibly fulfilling.
Military veterans, emergency responders and motivated civilians join and deploy with DRA on domestic and international operations, all with a commitment to serve those in need. Please note, our volunteer positions are unpaid. We are extremely grateful for our volunteers’ time, experience and commitment to this shared cause.
Deployments can be challenging work and emotionally confronting in disaster affected communities. Being physically and mentally fit for task is important, particularly if working for continuous days in austere conditions. We need to look after safety of self as we provide service to those in need.
If you are a new volunteer, you can sign up via our Expression of Interest form. If you are an existing DRA volunteer, check that your Muster profile is deployment ready, all skills and qualifications are up to date and your emergency contact details are correct. To streamline our processes a singular operational expression of interest will be current for all active operations. You will be able to select your preferred operation via this form, including length of deployment, and if you need help with your Muster profile you can let us know. To further prepare for deployment and know what to expect, all volunteers must complete the Online Core Operations Course prior via our online training portal.
Meals, barracks style accommodation and personal protective equipment (PPE); DRA transportation from designated RV zones to the forward operating base; and flights from major airports depending on the operations budget.
Taxis, ride-share, airport parking or private transport to and from designated RV zones.
As volunteers are not DRA employees, they are not covered by workers compensation. The first recourse of injury cover is Medicare and/or Department of Veterans Affairs (as relevant). Any out-of-pocket expenses not covered can then be submitted through DRAs Volunteer Insurance Policy.
In accordance with the nationwide relaxation of COVID-19 vaccination mandates, DRA removed the pre-deployment requirement for volunteers to be vaccinated. Volunteers who are symptomatic will be prevented from deploying and DRA will continue to strictly enforce isolation and testing of members with symptoms during operations. DRA continues to recommend all members are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and seasonal influenza due to the proven public health and personal safety benefits. We will also monitor the public health situation and revise internal policies accordingly.
All volunteers are reminded to keep tetanus injections up to date, ideally from within the past 5 years.
If you are from outside of Australia, you can register as a DRA volunteer. However please note the following:
- International volunteers are not covered under DRA’s insurance policy and therefore must have their own insurance to deploy. You will need to provide DRA with evidence of insurance coverage prior to deployment.
- DRA will only cover travel costs from the time you are actively launched on an operation i.e. board the flight that we have arranged to access the Area of Operation (AO). We will not cover any travel costs to and from Australia.
- DRA will cover the cost of accommodation and food while in the AO but are unable to cover the cost or provide you with the personal gear necessary to deploy.
- DRA does not provide migration support, including visa applications and status.
Everyone has a legislated duty of care to reasonably:
- take care of their own health and safety
- take care to ensure they don’t affect the health and safety of other people i.e. volunteers, members of the public or clients being assisted
- comply with any reasonable instruction given by DRA
- cooperate with any reasonable policy or procedure provided by DRA.
Our membership team are contactable to provide more information and assist with your enquiry.