RED Cross is on a cost-cutting drive in Victoria, much to the dismay of its country volunteers and members.

Linda Carr, who chairs the organisation's region five, based at Warrnambool, said the Red Cross was reducing Victoria's seven membership officers to four.

And in Warrnambool's case, its office has been listed for sale and there is speculation the Warrnambool shop could also be sold.

Ms Carr said membership officers were invaluable in helping with the administration of the volunteers, production of newsletters and organisation of meetings.

"I just find it all very disappointing because it will lead to the loss of members, volunteers and branch units," she said.

Ms Carr said she understood the cost-cutting decisions were based on analysis that providing membership services cost the organisation $82 a member, while the annual membership subscription was only $5.

She said what the analysis didn't consider was the huge amounts of money raised by volunteers and members.

These funds, raised from activities including craft stalls, local catering, raffles and door-knocking, were all directed into the Red Cross fund.

But this week, Red Cross headquarters was putting a more positive move on the cutbacks under the heading that "Red Cross champions the role of its members".

Red Cross executive director for Victoria, Toni Aslett, said the organisation was implementing a new structure that she claimed would improve service to its members.

"From next month four membership officers will work from Bendigo or Ballarat, Sale, Geelong and Melbourne to provide a full range of membership services on a regional basis," Ms Aslett said.

"We recognise that all our members and volunteers need opportunities and roles that give them a sense of belonging as well as opportunities to meet members from other regions."

Ms Aslett said Red Cross had 7000 members across nearly 400 units in Victoria and tens of thousands of trained volunteers.

"Unfortunately, our membership base is ageing and essentially it is female and over 70 years old," she said.

"Membership numbers have fallen 29 per cent in the last four years."