SEI calls for a locally driven approach in National Climate Volunteer Scheme
In a submission to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee, SEI commended the National Volunteer Incentive Scheme (Climate Army) scheme’s recognition of the urgent need for national-scale climate disaster response, especially as Cyclone Alfred threatens to flood vulnerable communities in southern QLD and northern NSW once again.
The concerns and recommendations outlined in the submission are empirically informed by SEI’s research across several projects that are conducted from a ground-up, community-based approach that foregrounds local knowledges while integrating it with systemic socio-ecological analysis.
Key recommendations include:
- SEI suggests renaming the scheme to the "Australian Climate Volunteer Service" to move away from the militarised "Climate Army" framing. SEI argues that disaster relief should focus on long-term community resilience rather than temporary, external interventions.
- The scheme should prioritise funding and supporting existing local community networks, which already play a crucial role before, during, and after climate disasters. Instead of relying on an influx of external volunteers, SEI calls for financial compensation, training, and upskilling programs for community-based responders.
- SEI recommends a governance model that follows co-governance structures seen in international models, such as the American Climate Corps. This would ensure that external support is aligned with local needs and does not create logistical burdens for disaster-affected communities.
- SEI highlights the importance of trauma-informed training for volunteers, along with education on assisting vulnerable groups and animal rescue efforts. SEI argue that disaster response is not just about physical labour but also about social and emotional care work, which is often undervalued.
- SEI suggests universities could play a greater role in disaster response by offering administrative support to community groups and implementing volunteering leave policies for staff. They also stress the need for mental health debriefing and support for student volunteers, who can experience significant distress after witnessing climate disasters firsthand.
SEI’s submission highlights the necessity of shifting the focus from external intervention to strengthening local resilience, ensuring that the scheme truly benefits those on the front lines of climate disasters.
Header image: 2011 Brisbane floods by Maythee Voran via Shutterstock ID: 612635576.