Western Australia’s peak organisation for the volunteer sector has been boosted by $175,997 in State Government funding to further develop its Volunteer Community Recovery platform.
Volunteering WA’s expanded emergency volunteering platform plays a vital role in responding to emergencies in WA, allowing individuals and organisations to sign up for specific community response projects as they occur, or join the community recovery pool at any time to be called upon when needed.
The upgraded platform has evolved from the feedback of more than 4,000 volunteers and organisations who registered to support community recovery in response to the pandemic, Wooroloo bushfires and ex-Tropical Cyclone Seroja.
The community response required for each emergency is different; volunteers could be called upon to support organisations with activities such as donation sorting, food preparation and delivery, transportation, fence building, and community clean ups.
Organisations and community groups that play a crucial role in responding during and after emergencies are encouraged to register their need for volunteers on the platform to enable Volunteering WA to refer volunteers when needed.
The effects of emergencies can be felt long after the initial impact has subsided. The upgraded platform will connect people who have a desire to step up during times of crisis with organisations in their community coordinating a response. Recovery following an emergency can take weeks, months or even years and is when volunteers can be the greatest help. It is vital to be prepared and have a network of people ready to assist at that time.
A further $30,000 in grant funding, provided in 2022-23, will enable Volunteering WA to conduct a system review of existing databases and a cost/benefit analysis to inform further improvements in its platforms and databases.
Together, we can help our communities recover.
