Role Title: Volunteer Employer Engagement Project Intern
Organisation: Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
Internship Period: Summer (November - December)
Location: Cockburn Central
The Project Intern will support the development of initiatives that strengthen partnerships with employers of emergency services volunteers. The role will research, design, and pilot engagement strategies to assist employers in supporting their staff to volunteer and to consider encouraging other employees to join the volunteer emergency services workforce.
Key Responsibilities
Undertake research into national and international best practice for employer-supported volunteering in emergency services.
Analyse existing WA initiatives (e.g., Employer Recognition Programs, release-to-volunteer arrangements, community safety campaigns).
Assist in mapping employer stakeholders across small, medium, and large businesses, including government agencies.
Conduct surveys or interviews with employers, volunteers, and volunteer leaders to understand barriers and opportunities.
Support the design of initiatives, resources, and campaigns that help employers better understand the value of supporting volunteer emergency services personnel.
Draft case studies showcasing successful employer-volunteer partnerships.
Contribute to options for recognition frameworks (awards, promotional activities, or digital resources).
Assist with the preparation of communication materials, including fact sheets, social media content, and employer toolkits.
Develop content that highlights employer contributions to community safety and the benefits of supporting volunteers.
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) was established on the 1st November 2012, and performs a critical role coordinating emergency services for a range of natural disasters and emergency incidents threatening life and property.
It comprises of 1600 operational personnel and corporate staff members. It also has an extensive network of more than 27,000 volunteers engaged in the delivery of services to the community.
The Operational Research and Development branch’s purpose is to enable the continuous improvement of our operational assets including firefighting fleet, equipment and personal protective clothing to enhance service delivery to the community and increase the capability of the department.