Spontaneous Flood Volunteering - Overview
Floods, storms, and emergencies can impact our region at any time. Hastings Neighbourhood Services is seeking dedicated volunteers to support local disaster response and recovery efforts across the Hastings region.
Join us and make a real difference when your community needs it most.
A natural disaster volunteer helps people and communities before, during, and after events like floods, bushfires, earthquakes, or cyclones. The exact role depends on the situation and the organisation, but here’s what they typically do:
🆘 Emergency Response
🧠 Skills & Qualities
🌏 Examples of organisations you might volunteer with groups like:
If this sounds like something you may like to be involved in, let's get started by clicking on the link below👍
Join us and make a real difference when your community needs it most.
A natural disaster volunteer helps people and communities before, during, and after events like floods, bushfires, earthquakes, or cyclones. The exact role depends on the situation and the organisation, but here’s what they typically do:
🆘 Emergency Response
- Assist with evacuations and guide people to safety
- Help set up emergency shelters
- Distribute food, water, and basic supplies
- Provide first aid or basic medical support (if trained)
- Offer emotional support to people who’ve lost homes or loved ones
- Help families reconnect with missing relatives
- Assist vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, or people with disabilities
- Clean up debris and damaged homes
- Help rebuild houses or community infrastructure
- Distribute recovery supplies (clothing, hygiene kits, etc.)
- Sort and organise equipment and donations
- Manage inventory and supplies
- Help coordinate volunteers and resources
- Teach communities how to prepare for disasters
- Run drills or awareness campaigns
🧠 Skills & Qualities
- Calm under pressure
- Good communication and teamwork
- Physical stamina (some tasks are demanding)
- Compassion and patience
🌏 Examples of organisations you might volunteer with groups like:
- Hastings Neighbourhood Services
- NSW State Emergency Service
- Salvation Army
- Australian Red Cross
- CWA - Port Macquarie
If this sounds like something you may like to be involved in, let's get started by clicking on the link below👍
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The Port Macquarie Hastings Region
The Port Macquarie-Hastings Flood Policy details floodplain management measures that are used to govern planning decisions in flood-prone areas.
We have six identified floodplain areas in our region:
We have six identified floodplain areas in our region:
- Hastings River
- Camden Haven
- Lake Cathie
- Wrights Creek
- Hibbard Precinct
- North Brother local catchment
Spontaneous Flood Volunteer Position Descriptions
Below are formal Volunteer Position Descriptions for spontaneous flood volunteer roles at Hastings Neighbourhood Services (HNS), working in partnership with NSW State Emergency Service (SES). These are structured for recruitment, onboarding, and performance outcomes.
Organisation: Hastings Neighbourhood Services (HNS)
Reporting To: Volunteer Coordinator / Emergency Response Lead
Location: Port Macquarie Hastings Region, NSW
Employment Type: Volunteer - on call during emergencies
Mandatory Requirements (All Roles):
Organisation: Hastings Neighbourhood Services (HNS)
Reporting To: Volunteer Coordinator / Emergency Response Lead
Location: Port Macquarie Hastings Region, NSW
Employment Type: Volunteer - on call during emergencies
Mandatory Requirements (All Roles):
- Completion of HNS volunteer induction
- Compliance with NSW SES training (where applicable)
- Working With Children Check (if required)
- NSW Police Check (if required)
- Adherence to Work Health & Safety (WHS) policies
- Flexible and reliable availability during emergencies
1. Community Disaster Relief Volunteer
Organisation: Hastings Neighbourhood Services (HNS)
Reporting To: Volunteer Coordinator / Emergency Response Lead
Location: Hastings Region, NSW
Employment Type: Volunteer (on-call during emergencies)
Position Purpose:
To support HNS and NSW SES in delivering timely, safe, and effective disaster relief and recovery services to the local community.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Organisation: Hastings Neighbourhood Services (HNS)
Reporting To: Volunteer Coordinator / Emergency Response Lead
Location: Hastings Region, NSW
Employment Type: Volunteer (on-call during emergencies)
Position Purpose:
To support HNS and NSW SES in delivering timely, safe, and effective disaster relief and recovery services to the local community.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist with emergency response and recovery operations
- Support setup and pack-down of evacuation and relief centres
- Distribute essential supplies to affected individuals
- Provide general assistance to community members
- Adhere to all safety procedures and directions
Essential:
- Ability to work effectively in a team
- Good communication skills
- Flexible and reliable availability during emergencies
- Commitment to safety and following instructions
- Previous volunteering or community service experience
- Knowledge of local area and community needs
- Attends and participates in emergency activations when available
- Completes assigned tasks safely and efficiently
- Positive feedback from coordinators and community members
- Compliance with all safety and operational procedures
2. Evacuation Centre Support Volunteer
Position Purpose:
To assist in the safe and efficient operation of evacuation centres during emergency events.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To assist in the safe and efficient operation of evacuation centres during emergency events.
Key Responsibilities:
- Register evacuees accurately and respectfully
- Provide information and direct individuals to services
- Distribute essential items (food, bedding, hygiene kits)
- Maintain cleanliness and organisation of the centre
- Identify and escalate welfare concerns
Essential:
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
- Ability to remain calm under pressure
- Basic administrative or customer service skills
- Experience working with vulnerable populations
- Prior experience in emergency or community services
- Accurate and timely registration of evacuees
- Maintenance of a safe and welcoming environment
- Timely escalation of issues or risks
- Positive feedback from evacuees and team leaders
3. Donations & Logistics Volunteer
Position Purpose:
To support the effective management of emergency equipment and supplies including donated goods.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To support the effective management of emergency equipment and supplies including donated goods.
Key Responsibilities:
- Prepare and distribute emergency equipment and supply PPE kits
- Sort, categorise community donations
- Maintain inventory records of emergency equipment and PPE
- Assist with transport and logistics coordination
Essential:
- Strong organisational skills
- Ability to perform manual handling tasks
- Attention to detail
- Experience in logistics, warehousing, or stock control
- Accurate inventory tracking and management of emergency equipment
- Timely preparation and distribution of supplies
- Safe manual handling practices
- Efficient coordination with team members
4. Community Outreach & Recovery Support Volunteer
Position Purpose:
To assist community members in accessing recovery services and supports following disaster events.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To assist community members in accessing recovery services and supports following disaster events.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide information on available services and recovery programs
- Support referrals to appropriate agencies
- Conduct outreach and community check-ins
- Identify and report emerging community needs
Essential:
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Cultural awareness and sensitivity
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Knowledge of local services and support systems
- Experience in community engagement
- Number of successful referrals to support services
- Engagement with affected community members
- Accurate reporting of community needs
- Positive feedback from clients and stakeholders
5. Wellbeing & Emotional Support Volunteer
Position Purpose:
To provide informal emotional support and mental health first aid to affected individuals.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To provide informal emotional support and mental health first aid to affected individuals.
Key Responsibilities:
- Offer empathetic listening and reassurance
- Support individuals experiencing distress
- Refer individuals to professional services where appropriate
- Maintain a safe and supportive environment
Essential:
- High level of empathy and emotional intelligence
- Strong listening skills
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Training in mental health first aid or support
- Positive feedback from individuals supported
- Appropriate identification and referral of high-risk cases
- Maintenance of professional boundaries and confidentiality
- Participation in relevant training
6. Administrative & Coordination Volunteer
Position Purpose:
To provide administrative and coordination support to ensure efficient disaster response operations.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To provide administrative and coordination support to ensure efficient disaster response operations.
Key Responsibilities:
- Data entry and record keeping
- Assist with volunteer scheduling and coordination
- Respond to enquiries via phone/email
- Support reporting and documentation
Essential:
- Basic computer skills
- Strong organisational ability
- Attention to detail
- Previous administrative experience
- Accuracy of records and data entry
- Timely communication with volunteers and stakeholders
- Efficient scheduling and coordination support
- Completion of reports within required timeframes
7. Field Support Volunteer - the SES Link
Position Purpose:
To provide non-operational, logistical support between HNS and NSW SES during emergency response activities.
Key Responsibilities:
Essential:
Position Purpose:
To provide non-operational, logistical support between HNS and NSW SES during emergency response activities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist with staging areas and equipment setup
- Support sandbagging and community assistance efforts
- Provide logistical support to frontline responders
- Follow all NSW SES safety procedures
Essential:
- Good physical fitness
- Ability to follow strict safety protocols
- Willingness to work outdoors
- Experience in emergency services or outdoor work
- Safe and effective completion of field tasks
- Compliance with NSW SES safety standards
- Reliability during emergency activations
- Positive feedback from team leader
Community Support
Flood Clean-up - Free Safety Gear
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Thanks to Think Safety Workwear's fantastic suppliers Paramount Safety, they have free PPE available to assist people in the flood cleanup.
Shop 5, 180 Lake Road Spotlight Centre Phone: 6581 4000 Email: [email protected] Hours: Mon - Thurs 9am - 5pm Friday 9am to 4.30pm Saturday 9am to 3pm Sunday 10am to 2pm |
Flood Recovery Centre
for Residents of Port Macquarie Hastings Region
Recovery Centres open during natural disasters to assist with:
They can also assist with emergency financial and other support payments.
These will be advertised through local media and the Post Macquarie Hastings Council website.
- Replacing ID's
- Personal Documents
- Legal Assistance
- Insurance Support
- Mental Health Support
They can also assist with emergency financial and other support payments.
These will be advertised through local media and the Post Macquarie Hastings Council website.
Flood Emergency Information
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Port Macquarie and Wauchope
Flood Recovery Centre Information
NOW OPEN
Port Macquarie & Wauchope Residents
Hastings Neighbourhood Services
We embrace diversity and welcome all.
We acknowledge and pay cultural respect to the Biripi people – the first custodians of the land we live and work on today.
We acknowledge and pay cultural respect to the Biripi people – the first custodians of the land we live and work on today.
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Incorporated as Port Macquarie Neighbourhood Centre since March 1978
Trading as an Australian Business No: 89592910624 since July 2000 Copyright HNS
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