Western Australia’s peak organisation for the volunteer sector will be boosted by more than $175,000 in grant funding by the McGowan Labor Government to further develop its Volunteer Community Recovery platform.
Volunteering WA (VWA) has received $145,997 over four years to enable VWA to further develop its online emergency volunteering platform.
VWA developed the https://emergency.volunteer.org.au emergency volunteer database in 2019 in response to bushfire emergencies. The platform was then adapted to help manage the overwhelming volunteer response to community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
More than 4,000 people registered on the database at the start of the pandemic, offering a helping hand to vulnerable people. It also acted as a contact point for those hoping to volunteer in the aftermath of Cyclone Seroja.
Following on from this success, an enhanced Volunteer Community Recovery platform will be developed. The enhanced platform will build capability in recruiting and managing volunteers in times of emergency, community recovery and other significant events that would benefit from efficient access to volunteers.
The increased automation and ability to connect volunteers to volunteer positions will streamline the process for both volunteers and community recovery organisations.
A further $30,000 in grant funding, provided in 2022-23, will enable VWA to conduct a system review of existing databases and a cost/benefit analysis to inform improvements to VWA’s platforms and databases.
As stated by Volunteering and Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
“During emergency situations and throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Western Australians always step up to help.
“It’s important we continue to encourage people to become involved in volunteering, particularly in response to emergency events.
“Volunteers assisted many of the State’s most vulnerable people at a time of great uncertainty and widespread community need.
“There is a unique opportunity now for Volunteering WA to build on existing work to improve volunteer recruitment for the benefit of the whole community.
“The upgraded Volunteer Community Recovery platform will provide greater support for users and more efficient ways to connect volunteers with volunteer involving organisations, particularly in emergency situations where a rapid response is required.”
