Future Of Crucial Volunteering In Jeopardy

The future of volunteer emergency services around WA is in strife according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Figures suggest that memberships numbers have been falling steadily of late at a rate of 300 people a year.

Currently 26,000 volunteers come to the rescue.

However due to a shift in demographics, there's a decline in numbers in regional areas while age is also an issue.

In 2016 alone, volunteers were involved in the response of more than 8700 incidents around WA, while the average age of volunteers is 48 years of age.

Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Wayne Gregson APM says in order for the volunteer service to grow, things will need to change.

The blueprint to increase and retain volunteers put forward during National Volunteer Week include diversifying volunteer roles, being more flexible with time committments and engaging people through digital and social media.

“As an emergency services organisation that relies heavily on the support of volunteers, it is essential we change our approach,” Commissioner Gregson said.

“It means evolving in terms of the opportunities on offer and how they can fit in with people’s lives and ability to commit.

“It is also about offering flexible options to volunteers as they age, so we don’t lose their valuable local knowledge and experience.”

There will be a new range of initiatives from DFES which will include research into recruitment and retention in emergency services, increasing the competency of volunteer leaders through the Volunteer Leadership Program, measures to better communicate with volunteers such as the redevelopment of its volunteer portal and redeveloping its cadet programs.