KEY INTEREST ITEMS FROM THE 12th OCTOBER MEETING OF THE SESVA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Not happy with the Government’s position on PTSD Presumptive Legislation
A letter from the five Volunteer Prescribed Emergency Service Associations jointly expressing profound disappointment with the PTSD Presumptive Legislation has been sent to Minister Stephen Dawson MLA, Commissioner Klemm, Shadow Minister, Martin Aldridge MLA and Premier Roger Cook.
The Association has raised matters related to PTSD with the DFES Executive and has gone to DFES Legal, but no response received to date.
The letter is reproduced in the current SESVA Newsletter November 2023
WAFES Awards and Gala Dinner – feedback sought
There are a limited number of seats for the Gala Dinner and there is a limit of two persons per SES Unit. The Association could assist in clarifying what the requirements are by helping to make the instructions for registering clearer and publicise this across VA media platforms. Also, that the VA Executive request DFES issue invitations to the WAFES conference to each Volunteer Association management committee member, as they do with the SESVAC.
Please give your feedback on the WAFES Conference and the Awards and Gala Dinner to the Regional Management Committee Member or Secretary Allen Gale.
Operational Efficiency Payments (OEP) review – information required
The secretary has attended OEP working party meetings with DFES which he believes will deliver good outcomes for SES, whereas it is likely to be more difficult for fire agencies. The name of the payment system may be changed to Valued Service Payment to reflect its purpose more accurately. SES Units can help to improve the current system by letting their regional Management Committee Member or Secretary Allen Gale know what the OEP is generally spent on.
WAFES Awards and Gala Dinner – feedback sought
There are a limited number of seats for the Gala Dinner and there is a limit of two persons per SES Unit. The Association could assist in clarifying what the requirements are by helping to make the instructions for registering clearer and publicise this across VA media platforms.
Also, that the VA Executive request DFES issue invitations to the WAFES conference to each Volunteer Association management committee member, as they do with the SESVAC.
Please give your feedback on the WAFES Conference and the Awards and Gala Dinner to the Regional Management Committee Member or Secretary Allen Gale.
National Awards and Recognition
WA only represents 7% of total awards on a national level and falling below 10% quota.
More people need to be nominated to reach the 10% level. The Volunteer Association to provide people with tools or more substantive information to assist them in making award nominations.
District Officers should assist with award nominations.
Loss of Training Qualifications without Notification
Many SES Volunteers are losing accreditation outside of their normal core skills which are being taken off the list without being advised or addressed.
There is no opportunity or process for Volunteers to retain their qualifications.
The Committee resolved to adopt a policy for DFES to reinstate all qualifications that have been removed in the last 12 months, pending a review of the process, and that Volunteers’ retention of training qualifications be on par with career staff.
The next Meeting of the VA Committee is scheduled for Thursday 7 December 2023
How to contact the SESVA Secretary Allen Gale ESM
email: sesva.secretary@ses-wa.asn.au
mobile: 0419 935 497
