This research presentation will discuss the initial findings of a study being undertaken to explore the integration of informal volunteers into animal emergency management. The January 2015 Sampson Flat bushfire in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia, will be used as a case study to explore questions regarding the challenges for, and strengths and limitations of, informal volunteering in this context. 

This research is being undertaken as part of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Managing Animals in Disasters (MAiD) project. Twenty-four in-depth, semi-structured interviews will be conducted with participants from the following groups:

·          Coordinators/administrators of emergent informal volunteer groups who were disseminating information and mobilising volunteers during the bushfire to assist with animals.

·          Members of established animal organisations who were involved in the response, but who don’t specialise in disaster response in their core business/activities, e.g. Animal Welfare League, RSPCA SA.

·          Members of the volunteer group South Australian Veterinary Emergency Management , who are veterinary health professionals with a level of emergency management training and who were responding as part of the official emergency response. Trained emergency services personnel and personnel from key government agencies (Country Fire Service, the Department of Primary Industries and Resources, the Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources), including those in decision-making roles and those who encountered informal volunteers ‘on-the-ground’.

The study findings will be important in enabling an increased understanding of the role, position, motivation, skills and knowledge of emergent groups and the role of volunteers in disaster situations. It is anticipated that the findings of this research will advance dialogue in this area, enabling solutions to be identified and improvements to be made to the integration of this potential resource in emergency management.