In recent months, Northern Territory communities have faced multiple emergency events, including cyclones and floods, and it was volunteers who stepped up time and time again to help keep people safe.
Now, Territorians have a direct way to support those who answer the call when disasters strike, through the NT Fire and Emergency Services (NTFES) Volunteer Community Fund (VCF).
The NTFES VCF provides a meaningful way for the community to give back to the more than 800 volunteers across NT Fire and Rescue Service, NT Emergency Service and Bushfires NT. These dedicated volunteers form the backbone of the Territory's emergency response, working around the clock to deliver vital services during fires, floods, storms and other emergencies.
As the primary response agency for urban, regional and remote hazards, including fires, floods, storms, and cyclones, NTFES plays a critical role in building safer, more resilient communities. Following a higher-risk weather season marked by multiple emergency events, and with bushfire seasons approaching across the Northern Territory, the NTFES VCF provides Territorians with a tangible way to support volunteers as they prepare for the challenges ahead.
All donations to the NTFES VCF are tax deductible and will support initiatives that directly benefit volunteers, including:
🟠 Professional development and training.
🟠 New equipment and technology.
🟠 Research and innovation to enhance emergency service capability.
Funds will not be used for volunteer payments, government funded operational costs, or any purpose outside NTFES volunteer brigades and units.
The NTFES VCF is overseen by an independent board to ensure transparency and accountability. The volunteer brigades and units of each service arm of NTFES can apply for funding to support initiatives that strengthen capability and better support volunteers.
Donations over $2 are tax deductible, and can be made by visiting the NTFES VCF website at fes.nt.gov.au [http://fes.nt.gov.au/donate]
Quotes attributable to NT Fire and Emergency Services, Commissioner Andrew Warton:
"Our volunteers give their time, skills and commitment to protect the Territory, often in challenging and dangerous conditions. The Volunteer Community Fund is about backing those volunteers, and ensuring they have the support, equipment, and capability they need to respond when it matters most.
"From road crashes and rescues to fires, cyclones and severe weather, our volunteers respond wherever and whenever they are needed, often leaving their families and workplaces at a moment's notice."
"Every donation is an investment in the volunteers who protect lives and communities across the Northern Territory."
