Anglicare Disaster Recovery Volunteer Program
Anglicare Disaster Recovery Volunteer Program – Pottsville
Ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred highlighted critical gaps in local evacuation centre staffing: our communities can become isolated, and formal supports struggle to reach us.
Regulations strictly define who can help in official evacuation and recovery centres, and local offers to assist are often refused. Anglicare is one of only a handful of ‘community partners’ authorised to train and deploy volunteers for these centres.
Pottsville now has the opportunity to establish its own ‘Anglicare Team’ to provide compassionate, practical care when disaster strikes.
Communities like Uki and Murwillumbah have already formed Anglicare Teams, building critical local capacity and tapping into funding streams to stock essential supplies ahead of time.
Below is some more info explaining the program and upcoming trainings in our area.
Upcoming Info & Training Sessions
Mullumbimby Session
• When: Tuesday, 17 June 2025, 12:30 – 3 pm
• Where: Anglican Church, Stuart St, Mullumbimby
(Covers all face to face content; see steps below for follow up online module & checks.)
Bangalow Session (Repeat of Mullumbimby session)
• When: Thursday, 19 June 2025, 9:30 – 12 noon
• Where: All Souls’ Anglican Church, Bangalow
What Is the Program?
Anglicare’s Disaster Recovery Volunteer Program trains and accredits local volunteers to assist in evacuation and recovery centres. Anglicare recognises the importance of having familiar faces within evacuation and recovery centres and is one of just a handful of organisations authorised to have volunteers in these spaces.
Why become an Anglicare Disaster Recovery Volunteer?
Fill a Critical Gap: Pottsville is desperately short of trained evacuation centre staff. Uki and Murwillumbah have already developed their own Anglicare Teams to fill this critical gap in evacuation and recovery centres. From flood to fire, our village has seen activation of evacuation and recovery centres with increasing frequency. Your help ensures evacuees and those moving to recovery centres are not left unsupported.
Supplies on Hand: By forming an official Anglicare team in advance, we can access funding for essentials (such as toiletries, sanitary items and baby products) so they’re ready when disaster strikes.
Recovery Support: Beyond evacuation, the Anglicare Team has a role caring for their community in recovery centres, offering ongoing practical and emotional support.
Flexible Volunteering: You can volunteer as little or as much as you want. There is no obligation to volunteer during disasters. The choice is always yours.
No Religious Affiliation Required: The Disaster Recovery program is about supporting our community, not promoting religion.
Program Structure & Requirements
- Face to Face Workshop (2.5 hrs) – introduction to the program and the roles and responsibilities of Anglicare volunteers in relation to other agencies. (There is an online option for people who can’t attend face-to-face.)
- Online Module (1 hr) – Reinforces key concepts and covers psychological first aid and trauma-informed care (includes quizzes).
- Checks & Accreditation
o Working With Children Check (WWCC) through Service NSW
o Police Check (free, via Anglicare portal)
Next Steps & How to Enrol
- Attend the Mullumbimby or the Bangalow face to face session. If you can’t attend in person, skip to step 2, and complete the training online.
- Register to become an Anglicare Disaster Recovery volunteer.
- Complete the online training module.
- Obtain a WWCC and Police Check.\
- Join the Byron Shire Anglicare Disaster Recovery Volunteer team!
Feel welcome to contact Elizabeth Gwynne 0411 046 019 or Judy Mann 0492 854 782 with any questions.