Your local volunteers
NTES is a volunteer-based organisation and currently has approximately 250 volunteers within 14 volunteer units and 17 Emergency Support Caches (formerly Emergency Response Groups) across the Territory.
We are always looking for new, enthusiastic members of the community to join our hardworking, loyal team of volunteers.
Volunteer units
Volunteer units are made up volunteers from the community who, without payment are prepared to offer their assistance to the NTES when needed and can also provide welfare support to police and fire and rescue operations when required.
Volunteers play a significant role in ensuring the safety of their community in times of emergency and disaster. Volunteers undertake a variety of roles according to their abilities, training and interests. Whether helping people and their community after a storm or natural disaster, assisting at a road crash, searching for a missing person, or responding to a range of other incidents - while undertaking a variety of non-operational roles including administration, communications and assist in non-emergency activities such as public awareness displays and community events.
| Regional/Remote Volunteer Units | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Alice Springs | Hermannsburg (Ntaria) | Nhulunbuy | Watarrka |
| Cox Peninsula | Katherine | Palmerston | Yuendumu |
| Darwin | Lajamanu | Tennant Creek | |
| Galiwin'ku | Maningrida | Wadeye | |
Emergency Support Caches are generally located at local police stations, where equipment such as operation road rescue trailers and fire trailers are stored. The existing Emergency Support Caches are located in Ali Curung, Avon Downs, Daly River, Gapuwiyak, Gunbalanya, Harts Range, Kalkarindji, Kintore, Kulgera, Maranboy, Ngukurr, Numbulwar, Papunya, Pirlangimpi, Ramingining, Warruwi and Yarralin.
Alice Springs
The Alice Springs Volunteer Unit (ASVU) is responsible for the Alice Springs district and the unit members are trained in a variety of emergency skills operating in the NTES Southern Region. The district covers an area of approximately 31,320 square kilometres and includes Alice Springs, the Territory's second largest city, and the communities of Amoongana, Iwupataka and Santa Teresa. The area of responsibility also includes 14 pastoral properties.
The general topography of the district consists of mountain ranges running east-west, with rugged gorges and ravines. The northern part of the district consists of relatively flat grasslands broken by patches of low scrub and mulga, and in the southern area, the country is gently undulating with lightly vegetated sandhills.
Cox Peninsula
The Cox Peninsula Volunteer Unit (CPVU) is responsible for an area which includes the peninsula area of Mandorah, the community of Belyuen and westwards to Dundee Beach.
The general topography of the district consists of black soil plains and sparsely wooded areas. Considerable clearance for horticulture has been attempted.
The CPVU falls under the control of the NTES Northern Region. The unit carries out the full range of normal emergency service tasks and maintains equipment for response to harbour rescues, road crash rescue and medical incidents as there is currently no ambulance at Cox Peninsula.
Darwin
The Darwin Volunteer Unit (DVU) is responsible for Darwin and rural area, along with Palmerston Volunteer Unit (PVU).
The region includes the cities of Darwin and Palmerston (including the Darwin Harbour), the rural area including Humpty Doo, Howard Springs, Noonamah and Berry Springs. Although the DVU is often deployed throughout this area, it mainly concentrates on the Darwin city area and surrounding suburbs, with the PVU primarily operating in Palmerston and the rural area.
The DVU is under the control of the NTES Northern Region. The unit carries out the full range of normal emergency service tasks, including rescue, marine, communications, welfare, administration, and training.
Galiwin'ku (Elcho Island)
The Galiwin'ku Volunteer Unit is responsible for the entire Elcho Island, located approximately 520km east of Darwin. The total area covered by the unit is 528km2 with a population in peak times exceeding 1,400 persons.
Duties carried out by the unit members include:
- land search and rescue
- storm damage and chainsaw operations
- marine search and rescue
- road crash rescue
- wildfire control and containment
- urban search and rescue.
Hermannsburg (Ntaria)
The Hermannsburg Volunteer Unit (HVU) operates in the Ntaria police district, which is located 140km to the west of Alice Springs, along Larapinta Drive.
Members operate under the direction of the NTES Unit Officer and the Local Controller, Officer in Charge of Ntaria Police Station. Members respond to operations involving road crash rescues, land searches and other functions as required.
The unit is supported by the local community and other outlying communities.
Katherine
Katherine is located on the Stuart Highway approximately 300km south of Darwin.
The Katherine Volunteer Unit (KVU) is responsible for the Katherine district, which covers an area of about 22,500km2. This area of responsibility includes Katherine township, Nitmiluk National Park (Katherine Gorge), Tindal RAAF Base and five pastoral properties.
The general topography of the district ranges from river flats to the rugged terrain of the Arnhem Land escarpment, the highest point which is 450m above sea level. Limestone outcrops predominate throughout the northern part of the district
The KVU falls under the control of the NTES Northern Region. Members carry out the full range of regular emergency service tasks and maintain two flood boats, a rescue trailer.
Kintore
The Kintore NTES Volunteer Unit is responsible for an area of approximately 56,000 square kilometres within the Haasts Bluff Aboriginal Land Trust including the Kintore and Kiwirrkurra communities.
The topography of the region includes a relatively flat sandy country covered by sparse low scrub and is broken by the Ehrenberg, Gardner, Bonython and Kintore ranges which rise in places to approximately 1,510 metres.
Duties carried out by the unit members include:
- land search and rescue
- road crash rescue
- wildfire control and containment.
Lajamanu
Lajamanu is located at the southeast corner of Hooker Creek Reserve, some 900km south of Darwin.
The Lajamanu Volunteer Unit (LVU) is responsible for the Lajamanu police district, covering an area of 34,000km2.
The general topography of the district consists of varying areas of saltbush, desert flats and scrubby woodland areas. The area varies from sea level to 520m in the Ware Mountain Range and includes part of the Tanami Desert.
The LVU falls under the control of the NTES Northern Region. The unit carries out the full range of normal emergency service tasks and holds equipment for response to road crash rescue incidents.
Maningrida
Maningrida is located on the coast approximately 400km east of Darwin.
The Maningrida Volunteer Unit (MVU) is responsible for the Maningrida district, which includes the significant communities of Milingimbi and Ramingining. The area of responsibility covers approximately 21,500 square kilometres.
The general topography of the district ranges from sea level to the northern edge of the Arnhem Land escarpment.
The unit is under the control of the NTES Northern Region and carries out the full range of regular emergency service tasks. It also provides support to the local fire response personnel and has a fire truck and fire trailer for grass fires.
Nhulunbuy
The Nhulunbuy district is located on the northeast coast of the Northern Territory.
The Nhulunbuy Volunteer Unit is responsible for the Nhulunbuy district, which includes the Gove Peninsula and part of Arnhem Land and covers an area of approximately 80,000km2. The region also consists of the bauxite mine of Rio Tinto Alcan at the township of Nhulunbuy and the significant communities at Yirrkala, Galiwin'ku and Gapuwiyak. The area of responsibility also includes many islands to the north of Nhulunbuy, including the Wessel Islands.
The general topography of the district consists of relatively flat plains with hilly coastal outcrops which rise to a height of 345 metres and form the Parsons, Mitchell and Bath Ranges, which in turn lead into the Arnhem Land Escarpment.
The unit falls under the control of the NTES Northern Region and carries out the full range of regular emergency service tasks. The unit headquarters is located in Dartnell Close, off Arnhem Road; behind Gove Motors, Nhulunbuy.
Palmerston
The Palmerston Volunteer Unit (PVU) is responsible for Darwin and rural area, along with Darwin. This responsibility is shared with the Darwin Volunteer Unit.
The topography of the region includes the cities of Darwin and Palmerston, the rural area including Humpty Doo, Howard Springs, Noonamah and Berry Springs. Although the PVU is often deployed throughout this area, it mainly concentrates on the areas south of Berrimah, with the Darwin Volunteer Unit primarily operating in the Darwin city area.
The PVU is under the control of the NTES Northern Region and carries out the full range of regular emergency service.
Tennant Creek
Tennant Creek is located in the heart of the Northern Territory, along the Stuart Highway with the Barkly Highway located 25km north, linking Tennant Creek with eastern Australia.
The Tennant Creek Volunteer Unit (TCVU) is responsible for the Tennant Creek district. The district covers an area of 56,000km2 and includes the mining township of Warrego and 11 cattle stations.
The general topography of the district consists of relatively flat plains with some hilly outcrops in the immediate area surrounding Tennant Creek.
The TCVU is under the control of the NTES Southern Region and carries out the full range of regular emergency service tasks.
Wadeye (Port Keats)
Wadeye is located 250km south-south-west of Darwin. The Wadeye Volunteer Unit (WVU) is responsible for the Wadeye police district. The district covers an area of 13,650km2. This includes the Wadeye and Peppimenarti communities and four outstations.
The general topography of the district consists mainly of coastal flood plains rising inland to the Sugarloaf Range and Wingale Mountains. Vegetation varies from mangrove to scrub and lightly timbered areas of woodland.
The WVU falls under the control of the NTES Northern Region and carries out the full range of regular emergency service tasks.
Watarrka
The Watarrka Volunteer Unit operates in the Watarrka district which is located to the south-west of Alice Springs and includes the Watarrka National Park and the Kings Canyon Resort. The area is bounded by the Mereenie Loop, Luritja and the Ernest Giles roads.
The unit is under the direction of the Emergency Response Officer, located at the Watarrka Emergency Response Unit, Luritja Road. The unit carries out a wide range of duties including road crash rescue, land search and many other functions in support of the Northern Territory Police.
The unit is supported by the stakeholders of the district including, Kings Creek Station, Kings Canyon Resort and the Parks and Wildlife Service.
Yuendumu
The Yuendumu Volunteer Unit (YVU) is is located to the northwest of Alice Springs and forms part of Counter Disaster Region 2.
The topography of the region consists of the relatively flat sandy country of the Tanami Desert.
The YVU is under the control of the NTES Southern Region and is capable of responding to:
- land search and rescue
- road crash rescue
- wildfire control and containment.