Submitted by Alan Hawke, Vice President South
The Minister for Emergency Services has established committees to provide advice and assistance to the Minister or the Fire and Emergency Services (FES) Commissioner or both on matters relevant to the operation or administration of the emergency services Acts (FES Act s.24).
The SES Volunteers Association of WA Inc (SESVA) is the prescribed association that represents the SES units in Western Australia
For the SESVA to perform its functions, it is funded by way of a grant from DFES on terms set out in the Grant Agreement. The Grant Agreement requires SESVA to achieve the following:
• Effective support to SES units
• Effective communications with volunteers
• Cooperate in stakeholder meetings
• Support the conduct of DFES-run events and attend unit events if invited
So that the Minister and FES Commissioner may receive relevant information and advice from SES volunteers, the SESVA executive and committee members will communicate with SES units on a regular and frequent basis.
A common criticism is that the SESVA doesn’t do anything for volunteers or DFES. This criticism may be founded on misunderstandings about what the SESVA can and cannot do. The SESVA is not about advising DFES on what DFES may want to hear; the SESVA is a conduit through which volunteers can express themselves by means of an alternative
to the DFES chain of command.
Likewise, communication messages to SES volunteers through the SESVA may not be what SES volunteers want to hear. Wherever possible, SESVA will respectfully advocate on behalf of SES units, even when that advocacy is not what DFES wants to hear. Recent examples of this include the SESVA position papers on consolidation of emergency
services legislation, SES helping address climate adaptation, workplace health and safety and flood boat operator qualifications. Likewise, DFES proactively engages and consults with SESVA on a wide range of matters that affect SES volunteers.
SESVA executive and committee members strive to be respectful, honest and frank. Through clear and unambiguous communication, the SESVA endeavours to advocate for SES volunteers in WA.
For information on the advocacy of SESVA, see our website at www.ses-wa.asn.au/news-summary.
SES units and volunteers are welcome to contact the SESVA direct on 0499 619 287.