Families around Ingham and other parts of Far North Queensland are facing devastation. Floodwaters have swept through homes and businesses, leaving behind destruction and uncertainty. Samaritan’s Purse Australian Disaster Relief team has now deployed to the region. Volunteers will assist homeowners affected by recent historic flooding in Ingham, greater Townsville and surround areas in northern Queensland. There will be opportunities for overnight and day/local volunteers. No skills are necessary prior to serving. Volunteers will be inducted and led by experienced team leads.
WHERE
Ingham, North Queensland. Meet up site is Sugar Reef Baptist Church – 38 Herbert St, Ingham QLD 4850
WHEN
We are looking for volunteers to start work on Tuesday the 18th of February. Volunteers will work Monday through Saturday, with orientation taking place at 7:30am. You can volunteer for a day, multiple days or multiple weeks.
SCOPE OF WORK
Volunteers will be part of a team for the day. Each team is supported by an experienced and trained team leader who will guide each person on the activities below. Each job will be within the volunteers’ capacity. One of our most used sayings is: If you can pick up a stick, we would love for you to join us.
Activities may include:
– Contents and debris removal
– Cleaning and sanitisation
– Mould remediation
– Removing damaged gyprock walls, cabinets, floors, etc.
– Emotional support
LOCAL/DAY VOLUNTEERS
Day volunteers are encouraged to register prior to arrival. Day volunteers will need to bring a bagged lunch. Volunteers should wear closed-toed shoes, hat, and sun protection. Samaritan’s Purse will provide a t-shirt, PP&E, and bottled water on site.
TOWNSVILLE BASED VOLUNTEERS
Carpooling and shuttle bus to Ingham is available on certain days from Northreach Baptist Church. Please indicate when you register if you would like to request.
OVERNIGHT/OUT OF TOWN VOLUNTEERS
We are able to accommodate limited spots for overnight volunteers. Team meals and basic bunk-style sleeping space will be provided. You must register with the volunteer coordinator before arrival to secure a bed space. Transport to the deployment site is your responsibility (airfare, driving, etc).
To learn more about our relief projects, how to get help or volunteering, contact us on 1300 884 468 (AUS) or 0800 726 274 (NZ), or email disasterrelief@samaritanspurse.org.au.
Volunteers will be part of a team for the day. Each team is supported by an experienced and trained team leader who will guide each person on the activities below. Each job will be within the volunteers’ capacity. One of our most used sayings is: If you can pick up a stick, we would love for you to join us.
Activities may include:
– Contents and Debris removal
– Cleaning and sanitisation
– Mould Remediation
– Removing damaged gyprock walls, cabinets, floors, etc.
– Emotional Support
No, anyone can volunteer! We provide all the training that you need, then pair you with trained and experienced leaders to facilitate your volunteer experience.
Volunteers may be as young as 14 years, however all youth aged 14-16 require parental permission and must work alongside a parent, responsible group leader or legal guardian. Youth volunteers are also restricted from performing certain tasks due to safety reasons. If youth-aged volunteers are serving with you, please notify Samaritan’s Purse Head Office in Australia to receive a copy of our policy, special instructions and other paperwork specific for youth.
School, youth, and church groups with multiple people should register with the volunteer coordinator before arrival.
Yes! We accept both individuals and groups for most of our projects.rnrnu0026nbsp;rnrnIf you would like to register a group to volunteer, please indicate this when you sign up and a Volunteer Coordinator will contact you. We welcome church, youth, school, organisation, corporate and other types of groups who wish to volunteer, however group numbers may be limited depending on the size of the project and worksite.
We encourage people to participate for at least one full-day to have the opportunity to get to know homeowners and fellow volunteers, however half-days are possible for local volunteers. Many of our volunteers participate from one to two weeks.
Yes, we typically will provide basic dorm-style accommodations at our host church base for volunteers who have registered through our Sydney office. Space may be limited per disaster site. You may need to bring a pillow, sleeping bag and air mattress or cot (if desired). Everything you need to bring will be outlined in an orientation package that you’ll receive before you depart.
You are responsible for your own transportation to the disaster response location and any incidentals during your stay. We take care of the accommodation, team meals and safety gear for you as you serve.
We cannot typically accommodate parking or hook-ups for caravans, however you are free to book in a caravan park at your own expense. Once you’ve signed up, a Volunteer Coordinator will be able to provide more information regarding accommodation options per site.
No, Samaritan’s Purse will provide all the tools you need. If you have tools you’d like to bring, please enquire beforehand.
We provide personal protective equipment such as masks, gloves, safety glasses, etc. You will need to bring your own sturdy, closed-toe footwear. We also recommend hat and sun protection. Sunscreen will be available at all job sites.
The safety of our volunteers is important to us! All volunteers must complete a site safety induction prior to serving on any Samaritan’s Purse site which will include site safety rules, emergency procedures, and hazard mitigations while working. Volunteers will serve under a group team leader to provide additional safety oversight and instruction on the work site. Volunteers complying with safety requirements are insured for accidental injuries while serving with Samaritan’s Purse.
Most of the disaster clean-up activities require some basic level of physical mobility such as moving and lifting. However, there are non-physical support tasks that volunteers can also provide to serve disaster survivors and our team. If you have concerns about physical constraints limiting your ability to work, please share that with our team when you apply.
No, Australian Disaster Relief volunteer teams are only engaged directly following a major disaster event, or during the recovery and clean-up process for 1-3 months following a disaster. Current volunteer opportunities will be displayed on this site when available. We recommend signing up for our Volunteer Alerts to be notified by Samaritan’s Purse when disaster relief opportunities become available.