Frequently Asked Questions
We know you may have some questions. Please check out the below frequently asked questions we receive.
Commonly asked...
Our registered charity name is Disaster Recovery Army Incorporated, and we have other brand names Disaster Recovery Fencing and Australian Disaster Recovery Organisation.
- Coordinating property recovery efforts (often damaged by flood or fire)
- Securing farms and animals
- Distributing material aid
- Providing temporary accommodation
- Performing clean-ups
- Providing any other relevant assistance that helps get people's lives back following disaster.
The scope of what we do within these parameters varies and is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Our Requests for Assistance (RFA's) mostly come from people in regional, rural and remote communities.
We are licenced/permitted to fundraise in every state/territory throughout Australia.
We do operate under different brands.
There are so many things you can do help, so please get in touch with us to learn more. We're always keen to form partnerships with other agencies, organisations and businesses (including trades).
Please reach out to us if you think you might be able to help.
Because the type of help we provide to people affected by disaster, we welcome volunteers from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
We work in teams, and you're never left alone. Our teams have an agenda that can vary from day-to-day.
Help that you can provide can include administrative, physical (labour), planning and coordinating, cooking and housekeeping, and so much more.
There is a requirement that our volunteers be aged over 13 (for insurance reasons).
As part of our volunteer intake process, we'll go through a series of questions and discussions about what you are and are not capable of assisting with, as well as the commitment you're able to make around your own life.
Though not mandatory, having some specific skills and credentials allows us to offer communities and individuals assistance like no other organisation. In high demand are people with equipment/tool/machinery tickets, first aid qualifications, white card, working with children checks, a trade background, and having great team and people (interpersonal) skills.
We value help from all volunteers.
We have internal safety qualified and experienced team members, and who are always available to our organisation.
Before we provide any assistance, on each Request for Assistance (RFA), we have a safety meeting, so everyone is aware of any risks and dangers.
Only properly and verified qualified people undertake any work where there is risk or a licence/ticket required to perform that work.
All personal protective equipment (PPE) required is supplied by us.
Typically, Requests for Assistance (RFA's) are rarely the same. So, what's involved differs from person-to-person.
Regardless of what's required, we will work out a specific plan for you, and then have you agree to the help we may provide. This may include preparing a Service Agreement and/or a Property Agreement - we generally require these for legal and insurance reasons.
We know that when you contact us, you're in a compromised situation, and need help - fast. So, you won't deal with bureaucracy - we'll get on and provide whatever assistance we can.
Sometimes we substitute people's names.
We also sometimes use stock images to provide an example of the work we do, where determined appropriate. This also helps prevent looting in areas of disaster by de-identifying properties.
Can't find the answer to your question? Get in touch with us by sending us an email to hello@disaster.org.au and we'll be happy to assist.