Purpose: The research investigates the relationship between vicarious trauma and optimism of on-field volunteers at Hilal Merah Indonesia Humanitarian Institution (HILMI) Design/methodology/approach: A conceptual theoretical approach was used: optimism scale and ProQol scale ver. 5. Participants: The population was composed by 220 field volunteers who had served for at least ten days at a disaster in Indonesia; 140 samples were taken. Findings: In line analysis showed that a higher level of optimism determined a lower level vicarious trauma; conversely, a lower level of optimism determined a higher level of vicarious trauma. Research limitations/implications: Vicarious trauma has many impacts, especially psychological implications and effects the volunteers’ work. Therefore, volunteers need to have the right qualifications, attitudes, and experiences to effectively plan and implement programs. One of the attitudes needed is optimism. Practical implications: The study has determined of the vicarious relationship of trauma to optimism on-field volunteers at (HILMI). This paper demonstrated the existence of a relationship between vicarious trauma and optimism.

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