Emergency Volunteers Go Online

There’s a new website for Australia’s emergency volunteers and an opportunity to apply for volunteer emergency management grants.

The new website, www.aemvf.org.au, has been established for the Australian Emergency Management Volunteer Forum (AEMVF), which provides emergency volunteers, their managers and organisations with a platform to facilitate better communication and to provide advocacy for the sector.

The website brings together a range of information for the emergency sector from news and events to resources such as training and legal protection.

Chair of the AEMVF Major General Hori Howard says delegates are keen to boost awareness of their work.
He says this website will allow the AEMVF to become more visible to volunteers and their organisations and also provides a great opportunity to share good ideas despite the challenges of distance and limited time and resources.
The website has been established through funding from the Australian Government’s Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative, announced in September 2004.
To view the website visit: www.aemvf.org.au
Under the initiative, volunteer groups can access grants for projects to boost recruitment, retention and training strategies of organisations at the frontline of emergency management, as well as fund capital equipment (within guidelines established by State emergency management authorities).

Community groups and emergency volunteer sector managers are reminded that applications for the 2006/07 funding round must be received by 3 March 2006.
Details about the Fund are provided in the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund Guidelines and are available at www.ema.gov.au/communitydevelopment

The grants program recognises the need to develop self-reliance at both the community and local government level and to assist volunteer emergency services sector agencies.

Up to 500,000 people volunteer their time and energy in emergency response and recovery activities across Australia.