Appreciation – SES Volunteer's Association of Western Australia Incorporated

14/01/2025 – SES Awards 2025 – Nominations

14/01/2025 No Comments

2025 WAFES Awards nominations opening soon

It’s time to start thinking of individuals, teams and young volunteers who deserve to be recognised for their outstanding contribution over the last 12 months with nominations for the WAFES Awards opening on Monday 3 February.

For more information visit the WAFES Awards website

SESVA President Greg Cook Said” I would encourage SES Units and Groups to take this opportunity to nominate their members for these prestigious Awards”. Peter Keillor Award which is the SES Volunteer of the Year, Team Achievement Award and the Youth Achievement Award all recognise the dedication and commitment of SES Volunteers who perform a diverse range of functions to respond to local, state and national disasters and emergencies.

09/01/2025 – AFAC Conference Perth 2025

09/01/2025 No Comments

2025 AFAC Conference, a supercharged WAFES Conference for volunteers.

THis year offers volunteers a unique opportunity to attend the W-AFAC Conference from Tuesday 26 to Friday 29 August at the Perth Exhibition and Convention centre.

A blend of all your favourite experiences from the WAFES Conference with the bonus of the national AFAC Conference and Exhibition, this is once in seven-year opportunity not to be missed.

As always, the event will allow volunteers from across the State to come together to network and share ideas. While a program of engaging content and experiences including tours, keynote speakers and presentations will enhance the knowledge and skills of those who attend.

The W-AFAC Conference will include:

Tuesday 26 August: Exhibition opening and welcome event – think WAFES Conference sundowner, but bigger!

Wednesday 27 and Thursday 28 August: AFAC conference program including access to the exhibition with demonstrations each day

Friday 29 August: The ever-popular DFES tours run during the day with the WAFES Awards gala dinner rounding out the week

To ensure the conference is relevant and informative for all volunteers, please submit your ideas for program sessions, demonstrations and more to your volunteer association or submit your ideas online.

Information on how to register your interest to attend the 2025 W-AFAC Conference and WAFES Awards will be announced in 2025.

06/01/2025 – Free Workshop for Youth with Disabilities

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The Youth Disability Advocacy Network Inc. (YDAN) is excited to announce our free Empowering Young Leaders in Disability workshop to regional Western Australia.

About the Workshop

The opportunity offers engaging, face-to-face workshops led by peer Young People with Disability (YPwD), focusing on essential skills and concepts such as:

Confidence in self-advocacy, sharing lived experiences, seeking employment, and taking on leadership roles in the community.
Increasing representation of YPwD in decision-making processes.
How to further equip yourself as a YPwD with information and skills to improve their employment prospects.
How to build resilience and self-advocacy skills to overcome challenges.
And Enhancing understanding of disability cultural identity and connection to the community.

We will be travelling to: Mandurah, Bunbury, Manjimup, Albany, Narrogin, Merredin, Geraldton, and Northam.

If you have any recommendations for individuals, organizations, or potential venues to contact, we would greatly appreciate your input.

Event Details:

Mandurah – 10th Jan 2025 (12pm-4pm) @Lakelands Library, Meeting Room 2
Bunbury – 13th Jan 2025 (12pm-4pm) @Bunbury Library, Program Room

Manjimup – 14th Jan 2025 (11am-3pm) @ Wellness & Respite Centre, Meeting Room

Albany – 15th Jan 2025 (11am-3pm) @City of Albany, Civic Rooms

Narrogin – 16th Jan 2025 (11am-3pm) @John Higgens Community Centre

Northam – 28th Jan 2025 (12pm-4pm) @Bilya Koort Boodja

Merredin – 29th Jan 2025 (12pm-4pm) @Cummins Theatre

Geraldton – 3rd Feb 2025 (11am-3pm) @Multipurpose Centre

Who We Are Looking For

Young People with Disability (YPwD) aged 12-25
Living in regional Western Australia

How You Can Help

We would be so grateful if you to share this opportunity with any YPwD in your network who might benefit from our workshop. Please find attached the relevant promotional materials.

We have two participant pools running, one in Microsoft forms (general) and another in Humanitix (locations specific). We’ve included both links for your convenience:

Microsoft Forms: https://forms.office.com/Pages/DesignPageV2.aspx?origin=NeoPortalPage&subpage=design&id=THuSkh1xB0W0aKCJ8LDvzKEBmDkT8BpNi-uxEa2Om6dUMUEzTENWQ1ZEOEM5R09aNExJQlJQNUM4RC4u

Humanitix: https://events.humanitix.com/host/youth-disability-advocacy-network

19/12/2024 – SESVA Christmas Message

19/12/2024 No Comments

Christmas message From Greg Cook President of the SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated (SESVA)

Christmas is a time for togetherness, and I hope that SES Volunteers across the State of Western Australia are preparing for precious time with family, friends and loved ones.

It is a time for us to be thankful for family, community, health, and happiness, but it can also be a time of reflection, as we remember what has happened in 2024 and the sacrifices, we as SES Volunteers have made to assistant and protect the Western Australian Community.

For most, Christmas is a time for relaxing away from work, but for us as emergency service responders, it remains a 24/7 commitment.

On behalf of the SESVA Executive team and me, I would like to extend our thanks to all SES Volunteers working to keep our communities safe this Christmas. The SESVA is immensely grateful for the sacrifices you and your families make for the benefit of others.

I hope for a safe and peaceful time for all and would like to wish the entire Emergency Services Community everywhere a very Merry Christmas and a safe New Year.

14/12/ 2024 – 2025 WA Volunteer of the Year Awards

14/12/2024 No Comments

Nominations are open

This is your opportunity to nominate a volunteer, volunteer manager, or volunteer involving organisation who you think has had a significant impact on the community.

Held in celebration of National Volunteer Week (19-25 May 2025), the WA Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise the significant impact of volunteering across all sectors in Western Australia. As the peak body for volunteering, Volunteering WA is proud to host the Awards.

Nominations close 5:00pm, 28 February 2025.

Finalists will be notified at the end March and the 2025 Winners awarded at the formal Gala Dinner on 15 May 2025, in Perth.

10/12/2024 – Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders program

10/12/2024 No Comments

Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders program

The winner of the annual WA Fire and Emergency Services SES Youth Achievement Award wins the privilege of participating in the AFAC National Memorial Service which is held each year at the National Emergency Services Memorial in Canberra.

Young SES volunteers under the age of 30 can apply now

A second young WA SES volunteer will now be given the opportunity to participate in the National Memorial

Service as part of the Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders (YEL) Program that has been established to support the development of young SES volunteers in WA.

The program is aligned with the National SES Volunteers Association YEL Program where young volunteers from all Australian jurisdictions join together at the Memorial Service in Canberra in late April or early May. They also get the chance to meet the Governor General and the Commissioners of emergency services from the other juris- dictions.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applications for the YEL program using the supplied form for consideration by a selection panel appointed by the SESVA Management Committee.

Young SES WA volunteers under the age of 30 can apply now.

Selection will be achievement based using a fair and transparent process managed by the SESVA of WA.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applicants are asked to provide a paragraph or two about themselves and write what they believe they can contribute as a Young SES volunteer to the SES Volunteers Association of WA and to their SES unit.

A supporting reference from the Local Manager of the applicants SES unit must also accompany the application.

TIMINGS

28 February 2025 closing date for receipt of applications
14 March 2025 announcement of the selected candidate(s) for the YEL program 2025
1st week in May 2025 AFAC National Memorial Service, Canberra Download the application form HERE

Submit application by the close date to the SESVA Secretary sesva.secretary@ses-wa.asn.au

SES Volunteer's Association of Western Australia Incorporated

“Together we can; Together we will”