Natural disasters are sadly part of life in Australia, particularly across our vast rural and regional landscapes. While communities understand the risks and prepare as best they can, bushfires continue to cause immense devastation — destroying homes, livelihoods, and the sense of safety that people rely on.

Yet time and again, these moments also reveal something deeply powerful about Australia: when disaster strikes, people step forward. Neighbours, farmers, tradies, community groups, corporate organisations and everyday Australians give their time, energy and skills to help others recover. This spirit of volunteering is one of our greatest strengths.

However, goodwill alone is not enough to keep people safe.

In the aftermath of bushfires, volunteers often find themselves working in damaged, unfamiliar and unpredictable environments — on burnt farmland, unstable structures, smoky conditions, and around heavy machinery and livestock. Many are highly motivated to help but may have limited experience, little training, or unclear supervision. Without the right systems in place, this can unintentionally place volunteers, landholders and recovery teams at serious risk.

At Dohrmann Consulting, we want to share our expertise to support recovery by making sure that those who step up to help are protected, informed and properly supported.

Why Volunteer Safety Matters Right Now

Bushfire recovery zones are not normal worksites. Hazards change daily, sometimes hourly. Volunteers may be exposed to:

• Unstable buildings, unstable ground, fallen trees and damaged fences
• Smoke, heat stress and poor air quality
• Fatigue and emotional strain
• Livestock, wildlife and uneven terrain
• Plant, machinery and manual handling risks

Practical ways to keep Volunteers safe

Drawing on decades of experience supporting high-risk work environments, Dohrmann Consulting recommends the following principles when coordinating volunteer efforts.

1. Treat volunteers like workforce – Even though they are unpaid, volunteers deserve the same care as any worker. Use a shared duty-of-care approach, similar to labour-hire models, where both the host organisation and coordinating group actively manage risks together. Make sure every volunteer receives a proper safety briefing before starting.
2. Make briefings Clear, Calm and Two way before any work begins – Explain the task and the hazards. Check people understand what’s involved, encourage questions, identify anyone with safety, risk management or leadership experience. A good briefing helps people feel confident, informed and supported.
3. Match tasks to skills – Not everyone can or should do every job. Before volunteers arrive, let them know what they will be doing — for example, working on steep paddocks, handling wire, or clearing debris. Assign tasks based on fitness, experience and capability, and never ask volunteers to do high-risk work like operating chainsaws, heavy machinery or working at heights unless they are properly trained and authorised.
4. Provide real onsite supervision – Bushfire recovery is dynamic. Conditions change with the weather, stock movement and clean-up progress. Safety cannot be managed from a distance. There must be supervisors on site who can: Monitor hazards, adjust tasks and step in when something becomes unsafe.
5. Seek trusted safety resources – There are excellent guides available to support volunteer safety: WorkSafe’s Volunteer Health and Safety Handbook and Safe Work Australia’s Guide to Work Health and Safety for Volunteer Organisations. Consult local emergency services, Vic Emergency updates and community health advisories. These should be part of every recovery plan.

Supporting the Volunteers

The generosity of Australians in times of crisis is extraordinary. But to truly honour that generosity, we must ensure volunteers are not placed in harm’s way while trying to help others.

If you are coordinating volunteers, or sending people into bushfire-affected areas, Dohrmann Consulting advice help clarify responsibilities, manage risks and put practical safety measures in place.

Together, we can make sure recovery efforts are not only heartfelt — but safe, effective and sustainable for everyone involved.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the safety of volunteers in these situations, or how to manage responsibilities and task of volunteers get in touch with our team and we can advise on our safety measures.