Risk management strategies for emergency management volunteers exposed to dying and death: a qualitative study

Purpose Emergency management volunteers (EMVs) are frequently exposed to incidents involving dying and death, yet psychosocial risk management strategies remain uneven and predominantly reactive. Adopting a systems approach, this study explored the strategies EMVs identify as necessary to support well-being and safety following exposure to dying or death, and examined how these strategies operate across interconnected system levels. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative phenomenological methodology was employed. Thirty-two EMVs from the Victorian State Emergency Service and Country Fire Authority participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, with themes generated inductively and subsequently mapped deductively to system levels. Findings Four interconnected themes were identified: (1) increased access to training, (2) improved local leadership response, (3) improved organisational response, and (4) a coordinated and harmonised cross-agency approach. EMVs described these themes as interdependent, with the protective impact of individual-level strategies contingent on integration across local, organisational, and broader emergency service contexts. They prioritised consistent follow-up processes, strengthened leadership engagement, and equitable access to training as critical to sustaining well-being following exposure. EMVs emphasised the need to shift from predominantly reactive post-incident responses toward proactive, coordinated, and sustainable approaches implemented before, during, and after exposure. Originality/value This study extends the application of systems-based occupational health and safety frameworks to volunteer emergency contexts. It demonstrates that psychosocial safety in EMVs depends not only on discrete interventions, but on integration across system levels. By privileging EMVs’ perspectives, the findings provide evidence-informed guidance for strengthening sustainable support structures within and across emergency service organisations.