Why Would You Do It? Age and Motivation to Become a Fire Service Volunteer

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BushfireTopic: 
Human Resources
ResearchAdoption: 
Protecting fire fighters
Project Reference: 
Enhancing Volunteerism
TitleWhy Would You Do It? Age and Motivation to Become a Fire Service Volunteer
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsMcLennan, J, Birch, A
JournalAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Organizational Psychology
Volume1
Issue1
Pagination7 - 11
Date Published08/2008
AbstractAustralian communities are very dependent on volunteer-based fire services for protection against fires and other hazards. However, overall volunteer numbers have declined significantly over the past decade, due mostly to the impact of economic and demographic changes on Australian society. One effect of these is that volunteer fire service memberships are ageing. Little is known with certainty about what motivates individuals to become fire service volunteers. A survey of 455 CFA volunteers suggested that those who volunteer do so because of a mix of community-safety, community-contribution, and self-oriented motivations. It appears that younger volunteers are more likely to be motivated by self-oriented perceived benefits from volunteering compared with older volunteers. However, they are no less motivated, on average, by community-safety concerns and community contribution desires than are older volunteers.
DOI10.1375/ajop.1.1.7
Short TitleAustralian and New Zealand Journal of Organizational Psychology
Refereed DesignationRefereed