President’s Report for 2024-25
The reporting year July 2024 – June 2025 has been extremely busy for the SESVA, the members of the Association Executive, the Management Committee, and the workers.
Volunteer Activities
SES Volunteers have again provided countless hours of community service across WA and nationally, including deployments for incidents and operations such as:
- Severe weather response, including storm, flood, and cyclone incidents.
- Search for missing people within Western Australia, including remote areas.
- Air Search for missing people in Western Australia.
- Rescues and recoveries within our national parks and coastline, involving cliff rope rescue work and carry-out rescues.
- Road Crash Rescue for many vehicle incidents throughout the state.
- Supporting community events that continue to benefit from trained SES Volunteers
- Substantial support to DFES in training and incident exercises.
- Direct fire support roles that continue to bring value to the communities in WA.
- Training for endless hours to maintain currency of skills and knowledge.
- Trying to gain new and expanded roles within the Department.
I am proud to say, with considerable proof, that SES Volunteers are the most widely skilled emergency responders who base their activities in their home communities. Giving is the SES code, and humility that is practiced regularly. Community connectivity is critical when delivering services for PPRR.
Summary
It is with great pride that I continue into the first year of my fourth term as the SES Volunteers’ Association President. The past six years have been a very busy journey and could not have been possible without the support of the Executive Council, the Management Committee, and Bella (now Linda) in our office in Belmont.
We now, as an Association, need to continue with the development of key elected representatives who will be our future. This comes through the Management Committee, Executive Council, and, of course, our future President(s).
Thank you to DFES, all 64 Unit Managers, and, of course, to all SES Volunteers. May the year 25/26 bring us the recognition and rewards that we work so hard for each day!
Consolidation of Emergency Service Legislation Activities
The legislation discussion has softened in recent times because of a lack of transparency in the development and consultation with the state volunteer responders. We all trust that this process will develop better practices in the future.
Fit for Role
The Association has conducted exhaustive consultation on behalf of all stakeholders and gained a positive result from the engagement. The SES Unit membership voted by majority to not engage with the program at this time after posing 14 questions to DFES and analysing the responses to their questions.
