- Title:
-
Conflicts Between Emergency Services Volunteering and Family Life: A Volunteer Couple Perspective
- Date:
- September 2008
- Organisations
- BCRC
- Authors:
- S. Cowlishaw, L. Evans, J. McLennan
- Location:
- Australia, VIC, Australia
Overview
The International Bushfire Research Conference 2008 - incorporating The 15th annual AFAC Conference, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Background: Little is known about how being a volunteer firefighter impacts on the families of brigade members. This is despite: (a) research illustrating how emergency service work impacts adversely on the families of career emergency workers; and (b) evidence suggesting that family issues play a role in many volunteer resignations and are contributing to falls in volunteer numbers.
Methods: Two studies were conducted to increase understanding about the impacts of volunteer firefighting on families. These were: (i) and exploratory interview study of 20 CFA managers of volunteers; and (ii) a questionnaire study of 85 volunteer firefighters and their partners from agencies around Australia. Data were analysed using qualitative (i.e., thematic analysis) and quantitative (i.e., structural equation modelling) procedures.
Findings: Results suggested that time pressures from brigade activities and the unpredictable nature of callouts were sources of pressure on partners; whilst social withdrawal following operational activities also had negative consequences for families. At the same time, many family members saw benefits from a partners' brigade membership (e.g., larger social network). However, impacts varied from family to family; and the perceived negative effects were more common when volunteers held positions of brigade leadership and prioritised the brigade ahead of family demands. Perceptions of more positive, and less negative, impacts on family predicted partners' support for a volunteer's continued membership with the brigade.
Conclusions: These findings highlight the difficulties involved with balancing volunteer and family roles. That partner perceptions of factors affecting family predicts support for continued brigade participation indicates that these impacts may play a role in decisions about continuing volunteering. As such, these findings present agencies with an opportunity to consider strategies to assist with managing impacts on families, balancing brigade and family life, and thus reducing volunteer resignation rates. Strategies for supporting volunteers and their families are provided.
