You could be deployed to assist in a flood, fire or other large-scale emergency, helping with a range of activities in your community or a neighbouring region at short notice. New Zealand Red Cross has 20 Disaster Welfare and Support Teams (DWST) around the country, listed by their regular training location - this team trains in Masterton.

Key Responsibilities

• Setting up and providing support in evacuation centres
• Undertaking needs assessments to understand what support people need
• Providing psychosocial support

Skills Required
No prior experience necessary - full training provided. DWST volunteers receive ongoing training in comprehensive first aid, psychological first aid, welfare support, and other essential skills, with regular scenario-based exercises alongside other response teams. Applicants need a Ministry of Justice character check and two referees.

Training sessions run fortnightly on Tuesday evenings at Masterton. Deployment can happen at any time - morning or night, weekday or weekend - with shifts scheduled around the needs of the disaster response.

There's an information evening for newcomers on 22 September, 6:30pm, at the RC Service Centre, Masterton - a good next step for anyone interested before committing.