The recent 2019-20 summer of bushfires focused the attention of the nation on the critical roles that volunteers play during emergencies and the significant volunteer workforce that is at the forefront of the response to such a national crisis.
On 5 February 2020, the Senate initiated an inquiry into lessons to be learned in relation to the preparation and planning for, response to and recovery efforts following the 2019-20 Australian bushfire season.
We welcome the opportunity to provide a submission to the inquiry and to contribute evidence on the role of volunteers in the emergency response. A series of guiding principles and recommendations have been suggested which would strengthen the emergency volunteer workforce and the enabling volunteering infrastructure.
