The Future of Emergency Services Volunteering in Australia! The VolunTeir Model
Tracks
Prince Room
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Overview
John Moy, Charles Sturt University
Details
Presentation Key Learnings:
1. Greater insight into the key barriers and enablers to emergency services volunteering in Australia, following five years of doctoral research.
2. An overview of three innovative, arguably radical, solutions to addressing the wicked problem of declining emergency services volunteer numbers in Australia.
3. A first look at the new, proposed VolunTeir model, that, once implemented, will not only increase, but sustain emergency services volunteer numbers into the future.
Speaker
Mr John Moy
Professional Doctorate Researcher
Charles Sturt University
The Future of Emergency Services Volunteering in Australia! The VolunTeir Model.
Abstract
There is little argument that within Australia disasters are increasing in severity and frequency due to a range of factors including climate change. To mitigate the impacts of these events the nation places a high reliance upon its volunteer emergency services workforce, which includes the State Emergency Service (SES) and the Rural or Country Fire Services (RFS/CFA). However, research shows the nature of volunteerism is changing and with this, the number of volunteers is in rapid decline.
Over the past five years, I have been researching this wicked problem of rapidly declining emergency services volunteerism, against an increase in emergency and disaster events. My research has identified the key enablers and barriers to volunteering and a force-field analysis of these has informed some innovative, impactful, propositions that will increase volunteer engagement.
Emergency services volunteering in Australia is a multifaceted, complex phenomenon that plays a crucial role in the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. My research has identified that volunteerism which is community-led and all-inclusive, plays a vital role in reducing vulnerability and increasing community resilience.
This session shares my professional doctoral research which proposes the VolunTeir model. The VolunTeir model is an impactful, national, and sustainable model, that bridges the gap between traditional formal volunteering and informal ‘mud army’ volunteerism. This contemporary model adapts to a changing world, and prepares for tomorrow’s disasters, today. The VolunTeir model, when implemented, has the potential to not only significantly increase the number of emergency services volunteers in Australia, but also sustain them!
Over the past five years, I have been researching this wicked problem of rapidly declining emergency services volunteerism, against an increase in emergency and disaster events. My research has identified the key enablers and barriers to volunteering and a force-field analysis of these has informed some innovative, impactful, propositions that will increase volunteer engagement.
Emergency services volunteering in Australia is a multifaceted, complex phenomenon that plays a crucial role in the nation’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. My research has identified that volunteerism which is community-led and all-inclusive, plays a vital role in reducing vulnerability and increasing community resilience.
This session shares my professional doctoral research which proposes the VolunTeir model. The VolunTeir model is an impactful, national, and sustainable model, that bridges the gap between traditional formal volunteering and informal ‘mud army’ volunteerism. This contemporary model adapts to a changing world, and prepares for tomorrow’s disasters, today. The VolunTeir model, when implemented, has the potential to not only significantly increase the number of emergency services volunteers in Australia, but also sustain them!
Biography
John has worked in various volunteer and full-time public safety roles for over 35 years. John is a lecturer at Central Queensland University, a committee member of the Australian Resuscitation Council, and the current President of the QLD/NT Australian Institute of Emergency Services (AIES). John is completing his Professional Doctorate thesis through Charles Sturt University and is keenly interested in disaster management, education and training, leadership, and emergency services volunteerism. John was a State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer for over 25 years. He holds numerous qualifications including a Bachelor of Social Science in Emergency Management and a Master of Business.
