Photo: probonoaustralia.com.au

As we mark National Volunteer Week (8-14 May), it is an appropriate time to thank our emergency management volunteers for the invaluable contribution they make during and after the ferocity of Australia's many natural disasters.

To recognise the complex service they deliver and the high-level skills and leadership required to respond to emergency situations, the Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to establish a million dollar scholarship fund.

The fund will boost education development opportunities, to ensure these volunteers and their agencies are best equipped to prepare for and respond to disasters.

Ongoing investment in the education and development of these men and women is critical to building our national resilience.

Eligible volunteers can receive financial support to access accredited vocational and higher education qualifications in emergency and disaster management fields.

They will receive up to $12,000 for completing vocational education and training and up to $25,000 for higher education.

I encourage all volunteers, including those involved in firefighting, flood and storm response, road rescue, search and rescue, and patrolling beaches, and recovery, to consider this new development opportunity.

The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) will administer the new scholarship on behalf of the Government, which will commence on 1 June 2017.

For more information on the application process visit the Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience website.