Australia

I volunteer with Disaster Relief Australia and worked alongside the ADF in Lismore. They often didn't have the right tools for the job and we'd share our gear with them. If this is going to become the new norm they need a new approach to disaster management that is much more fit for purpose.

On the other hand, I genuinely think we'd all be better off if everyone was given two weeks paid service-leave each year to spend on a volunteer cause they're passionate about. Everybody should feel secure enough donate their skills. There's nothing more fulfilling.

If I could afford a place to live and had received good healthcare for a few issues that I'm told aren't serious enough for surgery (hernia, varicose veins, nerve entrapment), I'd be happy to volunteer.

I looked into volunteering for the local SES once (when I was looking for stuff to do with my life after uni) and they turned me down, so actually accepting people who are interested is something that might help with their numbers.

I keep seeing commentary saying that we shouldn't use the ADF for disaster relief.

We have an organisation full of people with exactly the skills and organisation required that we maintain at great expense and barely use. Can someone give me a sensible explanation why it's not a good idea to use them for disaster response.

On a second note I know for a fact that small scale politics and wasteful spending are endemic in volunteer emergency services. I'm not sure what reform is needed but something certainly is. I'm about to re-enter a volunteer fire brigade for the first time in years so I'm sure I'll be full of opinions in a few months.

Eh, if its a dangerous job that needs to be done, they should get paid. I dont care if the ADF has to expand, or some other paid arrangement needs to be setup, but relying on volunteers is just exploitation.

And if the ADF can't spare a few trucks worth of troops, how ready will they be if NZ pops over for a "special military operation"?