Online Emergency Volunteering Register Launched
Victorians willing and able to assist during an emergency are being encouraged to submit their details to a new Emergency Volunteer Register officially launched by the Victorian Government.
Information from the register will be provided to local councils or emergency organisations in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
"Volunteers from all over Victoria have shown enormous generosity and kindness in the wake of events like the 2009 bushfires and the 2010-11 floods, offering their skills, time or services to help people in need," Acting Premier and Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Mr Ryan said.
Accessed online from Victoria's Volunteering Portal, the online register allows volunteers to list specific interests and skills that will help local councils coordinate the use of volunteers by matching skills, interests and capacity to perform local tasks in the event of an emergency.
"In addition to regular volunteers, during emergency or natural disaster events we often see a large spike in spontaneous volunteers offering support which has in the past inadvertently added pressure on local resources to manage," Mr Ryan said.
The new register is designed to provide a system for local government to better manage volunteer resources and achieve better outcomes during emergencies.
During an emergency, people will be encouraged to register details online and wait to be contacted, rather than calling local councils directly or travelling straight to the affected area.
"With the valuable database of generous and willing volunteers available, local councils will be able to find suitable volunteers as they are required." Mr Ryan said.
To register as an emergency volunteer or to check out the range of other volunteering opportunities across the state, visit Victoria's Volunteering Portal.