Informal volunteering

[Music]
New South Wales is the newest stranger
when it comes to disasters it's in our
nature to want to help people in need
it's important to recognize that every
disaster is different and the community
members may all be impacted in different
ways let's take a look at some of the
ways you can support your community
after a
disaster you might help with cleaning
out private properties and public spaces
assisting community members access
essential services and sharing
information with the community
offers of support are always appreciated
but remember a coordinated approach will
ensure your efforts are used most
effectively and that the community gets
the right help at the right
time those responsible for coordinating
volunteers after an incident may vary by
disaster and Community before assisting
it's important you identify who is
coordinating efforts in your area
contact the relevant emergency service
local Council or Community organization
if unsure remember partnering with an
endorsed group or organization will
ensure your safety and provide you with
an access to a range of Support Services

in times of disaster many people from
across the community and government will
come together to help our community
sometimes these environments can become
chaotic and
overwhelming effectively communicating
and engaging with each other will help
ensure the safety of all involved as we
all work together to support our
communities there are a few simple
things that we can all do to make sure
our community gets the right help at the
right time during a disaster emergency
services will be working on the ground
in the Community these emergency
services are responsible for managing
the incident and working in partnership
with the community to resolve it to
avoid duplication and ensure our
community gets the right help at the
right time you or the group that you're
working with can do the following advise
Emergency Services of the areas you are
planning to operate in and the types of
activities you are seeking to do have
your group join an existing and
coordinated emergency service or other
organizations efforts apply Safety First
approach to your activities and not take
any unnecessary risks while operating on
the ground share what you observe with
Emergency Services your information may
be important to the wider response and
helping your community advise Emergency
Services of a group leader who can
communicate with Emergency Services on
behalf of the group while you're on the
ground be sure to keep a record of the
people involved and the work you've done
so it can be cross referenced to avoid
duplication later follow the advice and
directions of of Emergency Services they
want to ensure the safety of your group
and the safety of the
community sometimes an area may be
unsafe to enter or the support being
provided may not be appropriate based on
what the community needs at that time if
this happens you can work with emergency
services to find other areas to support
or undertake an alternative job based on
the community's needs emergency services
may also be able to advise of other
agencies or organizations that require
assistance and facilitate
referrals remember that the safety of
all involved is the number one priority
before you or your group head out to
help make sure they have the right
clothing and Equipment including
gloves eye
protection enclosed
shoes hiis jacket or vest and a mask if
needed visit the New South Wales SCS
website or download the hazards near me
app to stay updated on the latest
emergency information
remember to share only verified
information from official
sources if you're a group leader like me
we are responsible for keeping our crew
safe ensure everyone has suitable
equipment even though there's a lot to
do everyone needs to get adequate rest
water and meals to work effectively
particularly during hot weather
disasters can be confronting ensure you
and your team take regular breaks if you
or your team are struggling look after
each other and know that ongoing support
is always available your cooperation
will assist your community in getting
the right help at the right time and our
community get back on its feet together
we can be the solution
[Music]

my name's Lofton costella and I was a
spontaneous volunteer with the New South
Wales state emergency service a
spontaneous volunteer someone who can
help out anyone of events using a wide
range of skills they don't require any
specific qualifications or training the
SES provides everything you need to know
on the day a few years ago a tornado
actually passed through where I live I
really wanted to get in there and help
where I could so I got involved as a
spontaneous volunteer with 30 New South
Wales SES I remember driving through
town and seeing the devastation the
aftermath there was trees down rubies
blown off the houses and these are all
people on you know local community
members so it's quite hard at the time
of the event I really wanted to get in
there and help wherever I could I
figured my skills as a carpenter could
come in handy I went down to the local
SES unit and just asked where I could
assist when I arrived there was people
from all walks of life and occupations
who all had skills to offer for the
cleanup all the SES volunteers that I
work from very welcoming there was a
great sense of community and teamwork
and we were made to feel very much
appreciated and actually made some
really good friends from the experience
some of the roles I was involved in as a
spontaneous volunteer included
sandbagging clearing debris which was
great because it allowed their unit
volunteers to complete some of the more
complex tasks in times of need I'd
recommend anyone who feels as though
they can give something back to their
community to become a spontaneous
volunteer of 30 New South Wales SES ends
up to help your community
you