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Calling all motivated volunteers with a desire to help others!
Why volunteer with DRA?
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 on their road to recovery.
To streamline our processes, a singular operational EOI will be current for all of DRA’s active operations.
You will be able to select your preferred operation in this EOI. Each wave is up to seven days, and will likely include a travel day each side.
Can’t do seven days? Don’t worry, you can select preferences and parameters in your EOI.
New to DRA?
We welcome all new volunteers and have created a specific new volunteer expression of interest. Simply fill in an application form and someone from our team will give you a call. Our Membership Team can also answer any questions you may have.
Already a volunteer?
If you are already a DRA volunteer, check your Muster profile is at Deployment Ready, all skills and qualifications are up to date and emergency contact details are correct. If you need a hand with your Muster profile, just let us know in the EOI and we can help you out.
Is your Training up to date?
Before you get on the ground, we ask all DRA volunteers 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 make sure you are up to date with all Safe Work Method Statements which can be found HERE.
Before you deploy, please read this important information
We have collated some important information that we ask all volunteers to read before completing an EOI for deployment. Please be aware – this information may change, so even frequent deployers should review these notes.
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 with any reasonable instruction that is given to them by the DRA organisation, as far as they are able; and
- co-operate with any reasonable policy or procedure that the DRA organisation has provided to them.
During deployment, DRA will provide:
- Meals, barracks-style accommodation and PPE
- Transportation from designated meeting points to the Forward Operating Base
- Flights from major airports (operation budget dependent)
DRA will not cover taxis, ride-share, airport parking or private transport to/from designated meeting points.
Volunteers 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.
Fitness
This is hard work and can be emotionally confronting helping communities with residual trauma that comes with living through adversity.
You will be working for up to seven days straight sometimes in uncompromising conditions. Be honest with yourselves! Please read through the requirements for operations as outlined in the EOI, and make sure you fit the parameters. We need to look after safety of self as we provide service to those in need.
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.
A 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 mobilisation@disasterreliefaus.org
Operation Wettenhall (Western Victoria Fire Recovery Operation)
Status: LIVE
Pomonal, Dadswell Bridge & Beaufort areas, Victoria
- ADVON/IMT – from Monday 8th April to Thursday 18th April (Complete)
- Wave 1 – Wednesday 10th April to Thursday 18th April (Complete)
- Wave 2 – Wednesday 17th April to Thursday 25th April
- Wave 3 – Wednesday 24th April to Thursday 2nd May
- Wave 4 – Wednesday 1st May to Thursday 9th May
- Wave 5 – Wednesday 8th May to Thursday 16th May
- Wave 6 – Wednesday 15th May to Thursday 23rd May
Get your chainsaws ready and some dates in the diary…Disaster Relief Australia (DRA) is currently undertaking a bushfire recovery operation in Western Victoria.
Op Wettenhall is underway in the Grampians region of Western Victoria to assist bushfire-hit communities within the townships of Pomonal, Dadswells Bridge and Beaufort. Bushfires spread throughout area from the 13 February onwards and more than 50 community structures, including homes and businesses, have been either damaged or destroyed.
This operation is currently approved to run for six waves.
A reasonable level of fitness is required for this operation. We anticipate a significant amount of chainsaw work and debris removal.
We are now accepting EOIs for all operations listed on this page. However, please note below:
- If you have NOT yet submitted an EOI, please click on the link below and indicate your operation preference as directed on the form.
- If you have submitted an EOI for any operations this year, please email mobilisation@disasterreliefaus.org to advise of your availability.
EOI Status: Open
This operation is currently running & accepting EOIs.
If you meet the above criteria, have availability, are deployment ready, and can deploy in coming weeks, please submit an EOI via the link below.
For any questions, please contact mobilisation@disasterreliefaus.org