Queensland’s Emergency Services have unveiled a strategy for using volunteers in natural disasters. Thousands of residents may be asked to help during floods, fires and severe storms.

Liam Morton reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Whenever there’s an emergency in Queensland there’s no shortage of volunteers willing to help.

Vox pop: “It allowed me to get to know people, what the area was like and give something back to the community, yeah definitely just to help out the community.”

Emergency Services has now surveyed thousands of volunteers, to find out what they need.

Katerina Carroll, QFES Commissioner: “We found a desire for more leadership training, better communication and more development within QFES.”

The good news, the survey found 79% of volunteers are satisfied.

The Minister says Queensland has benefited from a strong emergency services culture for decades.

Craig Crawford, Minister for Fire and Emergency Services: “The movement now is to continue the conversation with our volunteers and build on what we have this is a great platform, we want to make it even greater again.”

Two thirds of emergency services workers are volunteers, they make an invaluable contribution to the state, saving lives and saving taxpayer dollars.

Those volunteers could have a tough summer ahead.

Katerina Carroll, QFES Commissioner: “Unfortunately this year has been an extraordinary long fire season already. It started some six weeks prior to when we we expect it to and it will be a longer season at the end.”

Liam Morton, QUT News.