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The Importance of Wellbeing
At Disaster Relief Australia (DRA), ensuring our volunteers are mentally and emotionally prepared for the challenges of disaster relief work is crucial. This support is essential to ensure that our volunteers can perform at their best, maintain their wellbeing, and continue to serve those in need. The DRA Wellbeing Team plays a central role in this process by providing vital support that enhances volunteer resilience and retention, promotes mental health, and fosters a supportive community.
DRA volunteers often tell us their service brings them happiness. They feel that helping others through volunteering gives them a profound sense of purpose – in some cases, it even saves lives. In 2022 we commissioned a two-year observational study to understand exactly why volunteering with DRA has such a powerful impact on wellbeing.
Volunteering Helps Veterans
Through assisting communities devastated by disaster, we find dual benefit in volunteers experiencing significant improvements on their wellbeing. This is especially true for military veterans who often regain a sense of purpose through continued service to the nation.
About the Wellbeing Project
The Wellbeing Study was commissioned by Disaster Relief Australia to investigate whether service in DRA can lead to improved wellbeing.
The two-year scientific study provides robust evidence that volunteering with DRA improves mental health and wellbeing through the ability to serve others. We help those affected by disaster on some of their worst days, and in doing so, we help ourselves.
Wellbeing at Disaster Relief Australia
Volunteering with Disaster Relief Australia comes with a range of benefits to support your physical and psychological wellbeing:
We have a range of volunteer roles to suit all abilities and comfort levels. From being on the ground learning to use a chainsaw, to back of house roles such as logistics or volunteer engagement, there is a place for everyone at DRA.
Our dedicated Wellbeing Team are a phone call away to support your experience and connect you to further services.
We offer free mental health resources and training to help foster positive wellbeing and equip you with the skills to help yourself and others.
Connection with like-minded individuals that you’ll meet again and again help to foster a sense of community and belonging.
Community support helplines
Prioritising the safety and mental well-being of our volunteers and community, we’ve gathered a selection of Australia’s top support services. While not exhaustive, these resources provide crucial frontline support nationwide.
Lifeline 13 11 14
24/7 personal crisis support
lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
24/7 mental health support and counselling
beyondblue.org.au
Mensline 1300 766 391
24/7 counselling for men with mental health, family and relationship concerns
mensline.org.au
Open Arms 1800 011 046
Veterans and family counselling services
openarms.gov.au
Suicide Call Back 1300 659 467
24/7 counselling for suicide support of self or others
suicidecallbackservice.org.au
1800 Respect 1800 737 732
24/7 domestic, family and sexual violence counselling
1800respect.org.au