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Join the RAPID team

When a disaster or a hard time hits a town in our region, RAPID goes to be with the people affected. You can contribute your time, knowledge and skills. Opportunities may be local, remote or field-based.

Register your interest

What a RAPID response is

When a community is affected by a sudden or violent death, suicide, floods, fires or other disasters, RAPID provides support on the ground. Our team offers face-to-face emotional support, Psychological First Aid and practical assistance, and helps people connect with the services they need.

We work alongside local people and existing services. In Aboriginal communities, our approach is guided by local Aboriginal cultural authority and protocols. As immediate needs change, RAPID plans a supported transition to local and ongoing services.

Ways to help

Choose what suits you, then tell us in the form below.

Practical help and logistics

Help a response run: driving, setting up spaces, supplies and rosters. Not everyone needs to be on the front line.

Register your interest

Community support

Be part of the team in a community: at drop-in spaces, outreach and community events, offering a calm presence.

Register your interest

Knowledge, connections and planning

Administration, local knowledge and community leader connections, research and advice, and planning. Some of this can be done remotely.

Register your interest

Register your interest in contributing your time, knowledge and skills to RAPID

Opportunities may be local, remote or field-based. This form helps us learn what you could bring and how you would like to participate.

We can’t provide crisis support via this form, and it isn’t monitored outside business hours. If life is in danger, call 000. For 24/7 support, call 13 11 14.

Before you start

  • Steps 1, 2 and 5 are short, and they are all we need. Steps 3 and 4 are optional: skip anything you would rather cover when we talk with you.
  • You can register your interest without committing to travel or a particular role. Field deployments can involve extreme heat, long hours and weeks away from home.
  • Your answers are saved on this device as you go, so you can come back and finish later.
  • Relevant screening, induction, training and safety requirements will be discussed as your interest progresses. No supporting documents are needed at this stage.
  • Read how we look after your information in our privacy policy.

1. Your details

Preferred contact method
Are you 18 years of age or older?

2. How you would like to help

Where could you contribute? Select any that interest you, or add your own.
Which ways of contributing would suit you? Select any.

Your choices help us explore possibilities. There is no travel commitment at this stage.

Which council areas could you get to? (optional)

3. Tell us more (optional)

This step is optional. You can skip it, or answer only the questions you want to. Anything you leave out can be covered when the RAPID team talks with you.

Think broadly about what you know and do well, through work, volunteering and everyday life. Useful contributions include organising people or information, local knowledge and connections, cultural understanding, psychosocial or mental health skills, research, strategy, problem-solving, technology and practical help. Tell us about strengths we may not have thought to ask for.

Brief examples from work, volunteering, community life or everyday experience are welcome. Formal qualifications are optional at this stage. Up to 500 words.

No certificates or other documents are needed with this expression of interest. Up to 150 words.

Up to 150 words.

For example: occasional advice, a defined project, regular hours, weekdays, evenings or weekends. An estimate is enough. Up to 150 words.

For example: seasonal work, study, caring responsibilities or extended time away from your usual base. Up to 150 words.

Up to 150 words.

Up to 150 words.

4. Community, culture and support (optional)

This step is optional. You can skip it, and anything here can be discussed privately later instead. To protect your privacy, answers on this step are not saved on this device.

Community knowledge and cultural connections (optional)

Are you of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander origin?

(For persons of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander origin, mark both ‘Yes’ boxes.) Optional, to support culturally informed volunteer planning. Any cultural advisory role would be discussed separately.

How do you describe your gender?

Gender refers to current gender, which may be different to sex recorded at birth and may be different to what is indicated on legal documents. Optional, to help us plan inclusive participation and community engagement.

Think about trusted local helpers and community leaders, Elders, community groups, services, clubs, businesses, rural industries, and cultural or faith networks. Please leave other people’s private details out. Up to 150 words.

Consent (needed if you answered any question in this section)

Participation and support (optional)

You may answer either question, leave it blank or request a private conversation. These answers help us discuss suitable activities and support. A “Yes” answer does not automatically exclude you from volunteering. Please do not provide diagnoses, medication details or medical records.

Are there any mental health or emotional wellbeing considerations that may affect the activities you can safely undertake, or the support you may need?
Are there any limits to your physical capacity, mobility or stamina that may affect the activities you can safely undertake, or the support you may need?

For example: shorter sessions, seated work, flexible timing, an accessible venue or avoiding particular distressing content. Details can be discussed privately. Up to 150 words.

Consent (needed if you answered any question in this section)

5. Privacy, consent and next steps

Privacy: Lifeline Central West uses this form to respond to your interest and discuss potential RAPID contributions. Optional identity or cultural information supports culturally informed volunteer planning. Optional health and support information is used to discuss activity limits, safety and support needs. Access is restricted to authorised personnel who need the information for these purposes or to meet legal obligations. To request a private discussion, access or correction of your information, a copy of our privacy policy, or to withdraw your interest, contact Lifeline Central West on 1300 798 258.

Contact
Next steps

Thank you for your interest in supporting communities through RAPID.

Someone from the RAPID team will contact you within 5 working days. If you need support yourself right now, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

What happens next

  1. Registered

    You tell us what you could bring and how you would like to take part.

  2. Chat with the RAPID team

    Someone from the RAPID team gets in touch within 5 working days to talk about your interest and what might suit you.

  3. Screening and checks

    Roles are discussed individually, and taking part requires the relevant screening and suitability assessment.

  4. Induction and training

    You complete an induction and training before you go out with the team.

  5. Ready for RAPID

    You may be called on when a community invites RAPID in, so there may be quiet stretches between responses.

RAPID work can be hard. The team looks after each other and you’ll be supported during and after a response.

Prefer to talk? Call 1300 798 258 and ask for the RAPID team, or email [email protected].

Crisis support