Volunteers and Personal Protective Equipment

About eligibility for Volunteer and Personal Protective Equipment

Category A/B Counter Disaster Operations

Volunteers - Under Category A/B Counter Disaster Operations (CDO), where volunteers are undertaking eligible activities on residential properties, eligible costs include those associated with catering, accommodation and travel.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) - Under Category A/B CDO, where volunteers are undertaking eligible activities and a justifiable need exists, consumable resources, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), may be eligible.

Table 1: Volunteers and PPE directly related to a disaster event - Category A/B Counter Disaster Operations - Eligible and ineligible activities

Volunteers	Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Eligible activities and associated extraordinary costs in relation to: Assisting individuals with the removal of disaster related debris from their home to make it safe, habitable and accessible (excluding specialised activities, such as the removal of dangerous trees and hazardous materials). The management and coordination of volunteers and volunteer groups. Volunteer costs, such as catering, accommodation and travel. Volunteer organisations (e.g. Mud Army) undertaking eligible activities, such as cleaning out flooded residential properties and the purchase of PPE. Supply of bottled water to State Emergency Service volunteers who are undertaking eligible CDO activities. Ineligible activities and associated expenditure include: Stockpiling of water and equipment for future events. Costs associated with the immunisation and vaccination of volunteers. Any items not consumed or used immediately as part of clean-up activities related to the disaster event.	Eligible activities and associated extraordinary costs in relation to: Operational consumables used in undertaking eligible CDO activities (such as ropes, sandbags, tarps and non-standard issue PPE) may be eligible if a justifiable need exists, and once utilized, there is no (or negligible) residual value. Incidentals used for safety purposes during CDO are eligible – this includes items such as hand sanitizer, gumboots, insect repellant, sunscreen, hats, gloves, sharps containers, etc. Ineligible activities and associated expenditure include: Standard PPE and uniforms unless directly damaged by the disaster event. Any PPE or safety items not directly used while undertaking eligible CDO activities. Costs for consumables where no justifiable reason can be given as to the need for the item while undertaking CDO activities. The repair or replacement of assets damaged while undertaking works is not applicable to equipment where there is no residual value to the equipment following utilization (e.g. PPE or uniforms).

Volunteers

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Eligible activities and associated extraordinary costs in relation to:

Assisting individuals with the removal of disaster related debris from their home to make it safe, habitable and accessible (excluding specialised activities, such as the removal of dangerous trees and hazardous materials).
The management and coordination of volunteers and volunteer groups.
Volunteer costs, such as catering, accommodation and travel.
Volunteer organisations (e.g. Mud Army) undertaking eligible activities, such as cleaning out flooded residential properties and the purchase of PPE.
Supply of bottled water to State Emergency Service volunteers who are undertaking eligible CDO activities.

Ineligible activities and associated expenditure include:

Stockpiling of water and equipment for future events.
Costs associated with the immunisation and vaccination of volunteers.
Any items not consumed or used immediately as part of clean-up activities related to the disaster event.

Eligible activities and associated extraordinary costs in relation to:

Operational consumables used in undertaking eligible CDO activities (such as ropes, sandbags, tarps and non-standard issue PPE) may be eligible if a justifiable need exists, and once utilized, there is no (or negligible) residual value.
Incidentals used for safety purposes during CDO are eligible – this includes items such as hand sanitizer, gumboots, insect repellant, sunscreen, hats, gloves, sharps containers, etc.

Ineligible activities and associated expenditure include:

Standard PPE and uniforms unless directly damaged by the disaster event.
Any PPE or safety items not directly used while undertaking eligible CDO activities.
Costs for consumables where no justifiable reason can be given as to the need for the item while undertaking CDO activities.
The repair or replacement of assets damaged while undertaking works is not applicable to equipment where there is no residual value to the equipment following utilization (e.g. PPE or uniforms).

Note: This is to be read in conjunction with the Queensland Disaster Funding Guidelines 2021 and the Fact sheet – removal and management of debris.

Last reviewed: March 2022.