Signing up volunteers

If you’re running an Open Night or a promotion, you’ll want to capture the contact details of who’s interested in volunteering. You’ll also want to think about how you can keep people interested until they’ve got through Police vetting and medical checks.

Getting their details

If you have a tablet or computer available at your station, you might ask people to register online at www.fireandemergency.nz/volunteer(external link).

We’ll provide their details to you within five working days. This means that you’ll have their contact details information electronically, making it easier at your end to keep records. If you prefer hard-copy, use our Volunteer expression of interest form.

The Rural volunteer applicant information and Urban volunteer applicant information guides help to explain what happens when someone applies to become a volunteer. They have sections you complete with your station details and include:

• a checklist for people interested in volunteering
• information about the different roles
• guidelines around Police Vetting and medical assessment.

Keeping people interested

Encouraging people to volunteer is one thing, but how do you keep them interested enough once they’re signed up in eRecruit? 

• Talk to your crew about how your team might do things differently to help make newcomers feel more welcome.
• Give them somewhere to store their gear. We know one brigade where the Chief and other members of the recruitment team gave up their lockers so that the new people had somewhere to put their gear – an awesome way to make new people feel welcomed.
• Write a list of things that can be done with or for new members at each training so that they feel involved. On average it will take about four to six weeks to get signed up, so try to have six or more different activities to keep them engaged.
• Consider a buddy system, so that every new volunteer has someone they feel they can ask questions and who looks out for them during their first few weeks with the brigade.