4 / 24
olunteerism Strategy
Discussion Paper : 2017
4
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services
The challenge facing many emergency services organisations is
how to continue to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from the
increasing demands caused by natural and man-made disasters and events.
This, coupled with the challenges to traditional models of volunteerism, highlight the need for
emergency services volunteer organisations to develop clear yet agile strategies to ensure ongoing
support for our broader communities is there. In recognition of the critical and invaluable role our
volunteers hold in emergency service delivery, the focus of this discussion paper – and broader vi-
sion of the longer-term strategy – is to ensure volunteerism is deeply embedded into Queensland
Fire and Emergency Services’ (QFES) culture and ethos.
From recruitment and retention initiatives to training and volunteering opportunities, the
framework for the QFES Volunteerism Strategy will help shape our department and allow it to
better meet the challenges of the future, and in turn, the needs of the community. This discussion
paper will explore your perceptions, ideas and vision on how we can:
• empower and support local communities to develop and implement local solutions,
with a focus on preparedness, mitigation and planning
• support the development of a QFES Capability Framework to ensure effective, efficient
and robust strategies are implemented for QFES to continue to provide support to
Queensland communities
• provide a proactive blueprint for ongoing recruitment and retention that understands
the emerging trends in volunteering
• develop a framework for inclusion from local to state level – by celebrating diversity
while remaining focused on the common shared mission
• reduce complexity to provide better and transparent governance, regulation and risk
management for our volunteers through easier access to systems, tools and processes
• enhance volunteer training, opportunities and management
• enable robust organisational planning
• strengthen community capability and our shared accountability for emergency
and disaster management, to ensure continued and sustainable service delivery.
When a community’s volunteerism culture is strong, the better positioned that community
will be to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from extreme events.
“It takes a community to build resilience.”
From the Deputy Commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Mike Wassing
Chief Officer Rural Fire Service
Chief Officer State Emergency Service
Emergency Management, Volunteerism and Community Resilience