Role description

Support your community before and during an emergency. Join your local Disaster Welfare and Support Team (DWST) and help people prepare for disasters and to get through when an emergency or disaster happens.

Your tasks

You could be deployed to assist in a flood, fire or other large-scale emergencies, and you’ll help with a range of activities that could include:

• Setting up and providing support in evacuation centers
• Undertaking needs assessments to understand what support people need
• Providing psychosocial support We have 20 teams around the country that are prepared to help in their communities or in neighbouring regions at short notice. Teams are listed by their regular training location.

Volunteer requirements and training

You’ll receive training in comprehensive first aid, psychological first aid, welfare support, and other essential skills for the role. Our teams train regularly and sometimes take part in scenario-based exercises with other response teams.

We need you to be physically fit, a good communicator and able to commit to your team for at least 12 months – some of our volunteers have been with us for more than 20 years.

Meet new people, gain a range of new skills and be there for your community. Apply to be a disaster welfare support volunteer now.

Health, Safety and Wellbeing (HSW) While working as a volunteer you’ll need to follow Health, safety & wellbeing (HSW) information to keep yourself and others safe.

Apply Online on the Red Cross website

To apply go to our website and choose Get involved > Volunteer in New Zealand > Find a Volunteer Role > Disaster Welfare and Support Team Volunteer > West Coast > Greymouth