Communities responding to disasters: Planning for spontaneous volunteers

Australian Disaster Resilience Handbook Collection: Handbook 12

This handbook outlines nationally agreed principles in planning for spontaneous volunteers in disasters in Australia. It provides guidance on planning for and supporting communities responding to disasters by providing general guidance on ways to incorporate the principles into plans and activities. The handbook recognises the important role spontaneous volunteers can play in emergencies and disasters. 

The handbook is most likely to be used by people who manage spontaneous volunteers and develop policies, capabilities, emergency management plans and other documents within their own jurisdictions, agencies, organisations, and communities that incorporate some aspect of spontaneous volunteer management. The handbook may also be of value to educators, planners and others in the business and private sectors who provide suppport to communities impacted by disaster.