CQUniversity Unit Profile.

Assessment task one asks you to reflect on and analyse contemporary volunteering models in the emergency services/management context. As such, assessment task one is broken into two (2) separate but linked parts.

Part 1) Annotated bibliography.

• In part 1), you will develop an annotated bibliography, which contains five (5) sources.
• Four (4) of the five (5) sources MUST be peer-reviewed sources, and you must confirm their peer-reviewed nature in the title, see optional assessment template for an example.
• Each source must be related to the concept of volunteering.
• At least one (1) source must be related to a particular model or approach to volunteering that you select (for example, the traditional ‘high commitment’ model or spontaneous volunteer model)
• At least two (2) sources must be related to the emergency management sector broadly or an emergency services context (for example, but not limited to fire services context, police services context, ambulance services context, state emergency services context, volunteer marine rescue services context and so forth);

Part 2) Library search strategy.In part 2) you will provide the search strategy you used to locate the sources for the annotated bibliography. Using the CQUniversity Australia seven (7) step process for searching databases as a framework (the process can be found in the EMER12001 eReading List and in the Assessment Task One Help page in Moodle site under 'Assessment') you will describe the particular actions taken in each step, for example, keywords used etc., plus the refinements you made along the way and the rationale for the particular actions you took.

The assessment task is based on your engagement with the unit content and the broader academic literature and will be approximately 1500 words.

The assessment criteria for this unit are in the form of a rubric, which is available from the Moodle Unit site.

You will be assessed in relation to:

· Knowledge of volunteering

· Knowledge of voluntary participation by individuals and groups in the Australian emergency management and emergency services contexts

· Knowledge of models and theories of volunteerism

· Communication and presentation of knowledge and skills

In assessment task two, you will explore volunteering in an emergency services/management context and organisation which you select, and how the characteristics synonymous with the context enable and constrain volunteering efforts. From this analysis and that of a non-emergency management volunteer context, you will consider potential opportunities and ways in which you could enhance volunteering and its sustainability within the chosen emergency services context and organisation. You can select any emergency services/management context, for example, but not limited to, the fire services context, police services context, ambulance services context, state emergency services context, volunteer marine rescue services context and any emergency services organisation, for example, but not limited to, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, New South Wales Rural Fire Service, Northern Territory Police Force and so forth. You can also select any non-emergency management context, including those provided on the Moodle site. Importantly, you must show the way in which you propose to work with the broader community in order to enhance volunteer sustainability.

As such, assessment task two is broken into three (3) separate but linked parts:

Part 1) Analysis of the role of volunteering in your chosen emergency services context (e.g. fire service, state emergency service, police service and so forth) and the particular organisation you have selected. To guide your discussion, you will incorporate information on the following:

• Name of the organisation
• Organisational charter
• Key organisational demographics (including workforce demographics)
• Role volunteering plays within the selected organisation (e.g. is it a volunteer-based organisation; a small arm of a broader organisation etc.)
• Functions volunteers perform within the organisation
• Connection of the volunteer activity to the broader Australian community (what does the organisation do and how does that support/ benefit the community)
• How volunteering within the chosen emergency services context and organisation relates (or does not) to volunteering broadly and to one particular model or approach to volunteering (for example, traditional ‘high’ commitment model or spontaneous volunteer model)
• Summary statement about whether volunteering in your selected organisation is typical (or not) of volunteering more broadly in the emergency management sector.

Part 2) Discussion of a non-emergency management volunteer context and/or organisation and their approach to volunteering. You can select any context and/ or organisation. Some examples have been provided in the EMER12001 Learning Guide found in Moodle. You may use one of the examples provided or select your own context/ organisation. To guide your discussion, you will incorporate information on the following:

• Name of the organisation and its charter (who are they and what do they do)
• Key demographics (for example, location, number of volunteers)
• Role volunteering plays within the selected context/ organisation
• Functions volunteers perform within the context/ organisation
• Summary statement about the ways in which this context/ organisation is the same or different from a volunteering perspective to your chosen emergency services context/ organisation.

Part 3) Based on the analysis in Part 1) and Part 2), make three (3) recommendations for enhancing an aspect of volunteering in your chosen emergency services/management context and organisation. Your recommendations can relate to volunteering broadly (for example, broad policy recommendations) or a particular aspect (for example, a method of recruitment or retention) or a combination of both. The recommendations must show the ways in which the emergency services/management context and organisation can work collaboratively (that is, with) the community to enhance volunteer sustainability.

The assessment task will be approximately 1500 words in total, and importantly your response must be supported by appropriate literature (please see the assessment criteria rubric).

The assessment criteria for this unit are in the form of a rubric, which is available from the Moodle Unit site.

Broadly, however, you will be assessed in relation to:

· Knowledge of voluntary participation by individuals and groups in emergency services contexts

· Application of knowledge and skills related to participation by individuals and groups in emergency management and services contexts

· Skills in enhancing voluntary participation by individuals and groups

· Communication and presentation of knowledge and skills