Volunteer Financial Support Schemes

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩

As times are increasingly tough for many, with rising costs of living, lack of affordable housing, and persistent dry conditions across the state. Please feel free to share the following information with your brigade on financial support available to volunteers’ experiencing hardship. Two grants are available, each offering up to $5,000, that provide confidential financial relief to emergency services volunteers experiencing hardship.

𝐖𝐀 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞: This scheme offers support to emergency services volunteers across various services. It provides financial assistance during times of hardship or significant loss, covering essential living expenses such as utilities, medical bills, and mortgage or lease payments. Eligibility extends to all volunteers and their dependants who have served a minimum of six months or are in exceptional emergency situations. Please see the scheme's website below for further information on eligibility and the application process.

𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐀 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐝: Specifically for active members of Volunteer Fire & Rescue Service (VFRS) brigades that contribute to the fund, this grant assists with financial emergencies such as urgent medical expenses, loss of employment, and other critical household expenses. The fund aims to ensure that VFRS volunteers and their immediate family members can navigate financial hardships. Please see the welfare fund's website below for further information on eligibility and the application process.

Please note it is not possible to apply for funding from both the Volunteer Welfare Fund and WA Emergency Services Volunteers’ Hardship Assistance Scheme at the same time. VFRS volunteers are recommended to investigate their eligibility for the VFRSA Welfare fund first.

𝐀𝐝𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

🛈 For further information, application details, eligibility requirements and key contacts of each fund see:

WA Emergency Services Volunteers' Hardship Assistance Scheme: waesvhas.org.au/

VFRSA WA Welfare fund: www.vfrs.asn.au/volunteer-welfare-fund

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬

Please do not hesitate to reach out for support or use the Mental Health and Wellness services, contacts and resources available to DFES emergency services volunteers via the Mental Health and Wellness page on VolunteerHub.

Additional support can be found on the public WA Government Helpline webpage: https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/getting-help/helplines/

Thanks to Amber Balfour- Cunningham (Northam VFRS) for producing this information.