This project addressed the question ‘How can spontaneous volunteers contribute to more disaster resilient communities and more flexible emergency organisations in the future and what can facilitate or restrict their ability to contribute?’.   

It includes three sub questions:

• Sub-research question 1: - How can organisations harness the capacity of spontaneous volunteers in a more effective, diverse and flexible way?
• Sub-research question 2: - How have spontaneous volunteers contributed in disaster events in Queensland and Christchurch overcoming key issues of using spontaneous volunteers?
• Sub-research question 3: - Can key partnerships be formed between communities, spontaneous volunteers and emergency organisations to aid in disaster events and contribute to resilience building in communities?

Looking at two case studies involving spontaneous volunteers, Queensland’s Mud Army and Christchurch’s Student Army and identifying what impeded and what facilitated good outcomes during these disaster events.

The project will be completed over a 12 month period. It will consider two case studies involving spontaneous volunteers, Queensland’s Mud Army and Christchurch’s Student Army and identifying what impeded and what facilitated good outcomes during these disaster events.

The outcomes of the project should include 1.  Identifying potential for spontaneous volunteers to contribute to better, more resilient communities as recognised in the above case studies.  2. Identifying how key issues and restrictions allowing for greater citizen participation may be mitigate. d It will also highlight potential alternative relationships and means of collaboration between volunteers and emergency organisations