15/13 Volunteer Coordination in CDEM

Director’s Guideline for Civil Defence Emergency Management Groups [DGL 15/13]

Volunteers can enhance the capabilities of CDEM organisations during and after emergencies.

This guideline gives an overview of volunteer coordination. It focuses on both CDEM-trained volunteers, and spontaneous volunteers. CDEM-trained volunteers are community members who are registered, screened and trained during readiness. Spontaneous volunteers emerge during response.

This guideline highlights the importance of:

preparation – developing roles, processes and procedures during readiness so volunteers:
- can contribute effectively
- are supported during response and recovery
community engagement – building relationships with communities during readiness to:
- better understand what community members can offer as volunteers
- tap into existing groups and networks to promote CDEM awareness
- approach a diverse range of people to become CDEM-trained volunteers
flexibility and collaboration – engaging with spontaneous volunteers during response by:
- sharing information, and
- providing support and resources (wherever necessary and/or workable).