Checklist for organisations managing spontaneous volunteers

This checklist supports organisations to manage spontaneous volunteers during emergencies. It focuses on preparation, response and recovery phases to help organisations coordinate volunteers safely and effectively.

The resource is designed for organisations involved in emergency response and community recovery, supporting clear leadership, coordination and systems when managing unsolicited offers of help.

Benefits for volunteer managers

• supports structured planning for spontaneous volunteers.
• helps manage volunteer safety and coordination during emergencies.
• clarifies organisational roles, responsibilities and systems.
• supports effective leadership and decision making.

How to apply this resource

This checklist is most useful when preparing emergency management arrangements, responding to disaster events, or reviewing systems for managing spontaneous volunteers in community settings