Jeff Kennett: This is how we’ll help our brave volunteers
We get behind volunteers during a crisis but what happens when the crisis passes? A new trust aims to provide for the families of volunteers who pay the ultimate price, writes Jeff Kennett.
Opinion
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Australians have been presented with extraordinary images during the bushfires crisis, many of them upsetting and disturbing, many of them uplifting as we watch our fellow citizens putting aside their own hardship to help others.
The reach of modern media means we have seen up close the pain of loss, the stories of extraordinary personal or community endeavour; but once the emergency is over, the focus moves to other issues, or rubbish such as the behaviour of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
Those who have suffered during the fires, people who have been overwhelmed by the urgency, the horror of the moment, those who might have experienced profound loss, are left to rebuild their lives, often without much support.
I have seen this situation often after an unexpected death, whether by an accident or self-harm. Those left behind, traumatised by the death of a loved one, are propped up in the short term by family and friends, perhaps by media attention and the preparation for a funeral.
But after the funeral, when the media has gone and family and friends return to their lives, those grieving are confronted by the enormity of their loss. They face a life without the companionship of their loved one and in many cases must deal with new financial circumstances. That is why I intend, with Equity Trustees and the Business Council of Australia, to ensure the emergency service volunteers who die on duty, their families and particularly their children, won’t be disadvantaged and will have solid education options until they become adults.
To that end, EQT and the BCA have established the Australian Volunteers Support Trust. It will be a trust open to families of anyone who is part of an emergency service volunteer organisation who has died while volunteering. Those families will be able to apply, based on needs, not only for support for the family, but in particular for the educational needs of any child up to the age of 21.
It has been inspiring to see generous people and organisations give to those who have lost homes, property, stock and community facilities; but I believe the needs of grieving volunteer families have been overlooked until now.
At the time of writing, 28 lives have been lost in this bushfire season. That is unbelievably tragic.
Of those, three have been young volunteer firefighters, all whom have left family behind.
Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, left wife Melissa, two sons and 19-month-old daughter, Charlotte.
Geoff Keaton, 32, left fiancee Jess and 19-month-old son, Harvey.
Samuel McPaul, 28, left behind his wife Megan who is expecting their first child in May.
Last week a fourth volunteer, Victorian Bill Slade, lost his life in Gippsland.
There are two primary motivations behind the Australian Volunteer Support Trust
The first is to recognise and support volunteerism in Australia. Volunteering exists in so many forms in our society. It might be neighbour assisting neighbour. It might be giving time to a charitable organisation.
But often it is more organised venture, such as volunteer firefighters and surf lifesavers.
Many volunteer activities carry little or no risk but, as we have seen, some can mean paying the ultimate sacrifice.
The AVST will recognise, salute and encourage volunteering.
The second motivation is to provide support for families of those who die while volunteering. As I have said, one particular aim is to provide for the educational needs until adulthood of the children left behind.
And this trust is not some flash in the pan. If, say, Samuel McPaul’s family applies and is granted support, the Trust could be providing for the educational needs of his child for 21 years. And while we hope there will be no more tragedies, in our hearts we know there will be and the Trust will be there for those people as well.
Equity Trustees will manage this Trust on a pro-bono basis. Joining me as a trustee advisory committee member will be former Governor-general Dame Quentin Bryce, businessman and NSW University Chancellor David Gonski, Business Council of Australia CEO Jennifer Westacott, former federal Department of Education secretary Lisa Paul, and two senior members of the volunteer services.
To all of those who have so generously given or intend to give to one of the many bushfire appeals, I thank you sincerely. Australians are generous people at times like these.
But now I ask you to consider giving something to the families of those courageous volunteers who have lost their lives.
Hopefully, the fires will soon be out. People outside the fire-stricken areas will get on with their lives and those who have been touched by tragedy and loss will attempt to rebuild theirs.
Some will do it better than others. Governments and community will allocate billions of dollars to rebuilding communities around the country.
The Australian Volunteer Support Trust specifically is raising funds now and those funds will be independently audited and the activities of the trust regularly and publicly reported. Every dollar raised will be allocated to the identified families. There will be absolutely no administrative costs — ever. Equity Trustees and their shareholders will always bear such costs.
Volunteering is so important to our nation. Those people are not paid but remember — we cannot afford to be without them.
Have a thoughtful and generous day.
The Hon Jeff Kennett AC is a former premier of Victoria and chairman of the Trustee Advisory Committee, Australian Volunteer Support Trust.
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