When you register with EV CREW as an emergency volunteer, you will be asked to list the skills you can offer. You may only be contacted if your particular skills are requested by the community organisation needing extra help.

That particular community organisation will then ensure you receive any induction or orientation necessary before you start the role.

The length of time and amount of assistance will depend on you, the size of the disaster and the amount of extra help the community organisation requesting assistance might need. Shifts may be a minimum of 3 hours, a full day or even several days.

If you are contacted, our EV CREW staff member will discuss with you the shifts available and you can then choose to help for the length of time that suits you.

Usually you will only be called to assist in your local area or in an area that you can drive to relatively easily. This minimises unnecessary traffic congestion on already disrupted roads.

Similarly accommodation in an affected area may not be readily available after a disaster because it is needed by those who were forced to leave their homes as a result of the disaster.

In an emergency, an affected organisation might ask EV CREW for extra volunteers to help with specific recovery activities. This will most likely be a not-for-profit organisation or local community group, or possibly a government agency or local council.

We will search our registered volunteers whose skills and availability match the needs of that organisation – then we call those EV CREW volunteers to offer them a specific volunteering time.

If you have confirmed that you will attend, EV CREW will then provide your contact details to the organisation managing that activity. You will receive a confirmation email from us containing all the details about the activity. Sometimes the particular organisation might also contact you directly before the activity.

Even with an emergency happening in Queensland, you may or may not be required. It depends on your location, skills and availability and the needs of a community’s request of volunteers. It is worth noting that this may be weeks or months after the emergency that you may be required.

Some skills are more common than others, so for general volunteering opportunities, we will usually try and contact people who live close to the affected community. Similarity if a required skill is less common, we may have to request volunteers from further afield.

It all depends on when and where an emergency happens, and what kind of recovery activities are being planned by an affected community. Some people who register as EV CREW volunteers may not hear from us for many months. It is therefore important to keep your contact details up-to-date.

When you have been allocated a specific volunteering opportunity, there will be a contact name and number in case of emergencies or non-attendance. Please contact that person or organisation and advise of your situation as soon as possible.

Different sorts of equipment may be needed depending on the disaster-affected area and the organisation needing help. You can include any equipment when you register so we then know what may be available.

EV CREW volunteers will not be sent to any areas or activities where there is a known threat or danger.

They will only be called upon to assist before a disaster in the preparation phase or after the immediate response phase once the danger has passed. In the recovery phase affected communities may need volunteer assistance for many weeks or months – sometimes even years – after the emergency has passed.

Queensland’s emergency services organisations – such as the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Ambulance Service, Queensland Police Service and Australian Red Cross – deploy highly trained and skilled staff and volunteers to respond to immediate emergencies.

Some of these agencies offer ongoing volunteering opportunities, such as the Rural Fire Service Queensland and the State Emergency Service. Please contact these organisations directly should you wish to register your interest with them.

If needed we will contact you to determine if you can attend the opportunity at that particular time. You can continue to be registered with us even if you cannot participate this time around.

In an emergency, there will be specific organisations allocated by the state or local governments where goods and financial donations can be sent to. Previously these have included GIVIT, Australian Red Cross, Lifeline and The Salvation Army.

You should definitely count on bringing sunscreen, insect repellent, water, snacks, sunglasses and closed in shoes. Make sure any scratches on your skin are covered with band-aids to prevent infection.

When we call you to volunteer we will let you know exactly what you will need.

Please do not bring pets.

That will depend on the volunteering activity and the host organisation. When we call you, we will be able to answer that question specifically for that event. 

EV CREW volunteers are placed with requesting organisations needing extra help. This means you will be greeted and supervised by someone from that particular organisation when you arrive for your volunteering activity.

You’ll be covered by that organisation’s insurance policies, and you’ll need to follow their guidance and directions. Sometimes these may be provided to you by the organisation by email prior, and some might just give them to you on the day.

Make sure you ask the supervisor if you have any questions about the organisation’s processes, or your rights and responsibilities.

Yes you can. Simply send an email to emergencyvol@volunteeringqld.org.au stating your first and last name and the email address that you registered with initially.

EV CREW utilises some of the most advanced technology for Internet security available today. When you access our site using a supported web browser, Secure Socket Layer (SSL) technology protects your information using both server authentication and data encryption. Your EV CREW data are saved in a secure server environment that uses a firewall and other advanced technology to prevent interference or access from outside intruders. Your private data is not shared with third party organisations until you agree to volunteer for an organisation. Please see our terms and conditions.

For general volunteering opportunities please visit Volunteering Queensland's online platform at volunteeringqld.org.au.

There you can search thousands of vast and varied volunteering opportunities throughout the state. You can get involved in the arts, environmental conservation, sports, or welfare. You can help the homeless, children, animals, the elderly, refugees, or people living with disabilities. You can use or develop your skills in research, admin, tutoring, marketing, retail, management, and much more.

There are one off events, short-term projects and long-term roles. Search based on your interests, motivations, availability and location. Whichever role you choose, you'll be helping Queensland communities.