29/09/2023 – Seeking nominations for the Emergency Services Medal

29/09/2023 No Comments

NOMINATIONS OPEN FOR THE AUSTRALIAN HONOURS MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARDS – KING’S BIRTHDAY 2024

Nominations for Australian Honours Meritorious Service Awards, including the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM), Emergency Services Medal (ESM) and Australian Bravery Decorations (ABD) are now being sought.

This is your opportunity to recognise a fellow DFES staff member or volunteer who deserves recognition at the highest level. These awards recognise the gallantry, bravery, achievement and outstanding service of Australians.

The AFSM is awarded for meritorious service by a frontline member of an Australian Fire Service. The ESM is awarded for meritorious service by a frontline member of an Australian Emergency Service, or who has given distinguished service in relation to emergency management, training or education.

Australian Bravery Decorations are awarded to recognise acts of bravery by individuals and groups whose selfless actions put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

Further information is available in the Honours and Awards Handbook, AFSM, ESM, ABD nomination guidelines. Nominations for the above Australian Honours can be submitted online.

Nominations can be submitted at any time, however nominations submitted by Monday 16 October 2023 will be considered for the King’s Birthday 2024 Honours List and August 2024 Bravery List.

For further information, email the Honours and Awards Officer at rewards@dfes.wa.gov.au.

I encourage you to nominate an eligible DFES volunteer or staff member for an Australian Honours Meritorious Service Award and acknowledge the achievements of those who act as role models, make a difference, achieve their best, or have put themselves in jeopardy to protect the lives or property of others.

DARREN KLEMM AFSM COMMISSIONER

Greg Cook SESVA President said, “I encourage SES Units/Groups to nominate their members who are eligible for this prestigious award”.

27/09/2023 – 2023 National Workforce Survey

27/09/2023 No Comments

Take the 2023 National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health and help shape child mental health planning and policy

This survey seeks to understand the current awareness and practice challenges facing professionals in supporting children’s mental health during their everyday practice. 

Health, social and community services workers are invited to complete the 2023 National Workforce Survey for Family, Parent and Child Mental Health.

You do not have to work directly with children or in mental health to participate. Emerging Minds’ flagship program is funded by the Australian Government to advance the mental health of children and infants by building capacity across a broad range of health, social and community service workforces through free training and workforce development initiatives.

This is an opportunity to help build a picture of workforce needs that will help ensure future workforce development strategies meet the needs of real workers and will also contribute to policy advice that will shape children’s mental health policy to come.

The survey is anonymous and takes about 20 mins to complete.

Complete the survey for your chance to win 1 of 5 iPads. https://survey.zohopublic.com.au/zs/MBBtNU?link=partners

To learn more about the survey, check out the Emerging Minds website to read, download, watch or listen to the results of the previous survey in 2020-21

22/09/2023 – Provision and maintenance of automated external defibrillators at workplaces

22/09/2023 No Comments

Background

WorkSafe has become aware of risks arising from a lack of maintenance of automated external defibrillators (AEDs) at workplaces.

An AED is a piece of first aid equipment designed to be used by any person, with or without training, to provide a quick and effective response to cardiac arrest. Without treatment, a cardiac arrest can be fatal within minutes.

AEDs provide audible step-by-step instruction on how to use them and how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). An AED can detect whether it has been applied correctly, will instruct whether defibrillation is appropriate, and will only shock a person who is in cardiac arrest. Workplaces should be provided with AEDs, especially where there:

is a risk to workers from electrocution
would be a delay in ambulance services arriving
are large numbers of members of the

Duties under the work health and safety legislation

Under the work health and safety legislation, a person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, that the health and safety of workers and other people, such as visitors, is not put at risk.

The PCBU at a workplace must ensure:

first aid equipment is provided
that each worker has access to the equipment
there is access to facilities to administer first aid
an adequate number of workers are trained to administer first

First aid requirements will vary from one workplace to the next, depending on the nature of the work, the types of hazards, the workplace size and location, and the number of people at the workplace.

A risk management approach, based on the circumstances of the workplace, must be considered when deciding what first aid arrangements are provided, which includes the provision and maintenance of AEDs at the workplaces.

The risk management approach involves identifying hazards that could result in work-related injury or illness; considering other medical issues that may arise; assessing the type, severity and likelihood of injury or illness; providing appropriate first aid equipment, facilities and training; and reviewing first aid requirements regularly or as circumstances change.

Summary of hazard

Defibrillation is the only way to restore a heart with a fatal heart rhythm back to normal. As a consequence, if an AED fails to operate when used on a person who is in cardiac arrest, first aid will not be effective or reduce the risk of fatality.

Contributory factors

Flat batteries in workplace
Expired or missing AED
AED failing to operate when
AED not visible or accessible when

Actions required

The PCBU at the workplace should ensure:

AEDs are maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications
pads and batteries are checked regularly, as these will expire over time
pads are replaced if they have been used
AEDs are located in accessible areas with clearly visible signage
workers are trained in first aid, including the location and use of AEDs, and provided refresher training as necessary
first aid and emergency procedures are regularly

References and further information

Work Health and Safety Commission

First aid in the workplace: Code of practice

21/09/2023 – Gosnells SES GPS Workshop

21/09/2023 No Comments

GPS WORKSHOP

Know you way around your GPS

Workshop aims:

Create waypoints

GO TO waypoints

Project waypoints

Change datum

Change positional format

Sunday 22 October 2023

Gosnells SES EOC

0745 hrs – 1130 hrs followed by a BBQ lunch

RSVP – 13 October 2023: Nazim – Training Manager
nazim.alises@gmail.com

19/09/2023 – Australasian Women in Emergencies Day

19/09/2023 No Comments

Australasian Women in Emergencies Day Guide

October 10 is Australasian Women in Emergencies Day (AWE Day), a day to

recognise and celebrate women in emergencies and disaster resilience.

AWE Day is marked by a range of activities to recognise and celebrate women

including:

Australasian Women in Emergencies Day Forum with special guests
AWE Excellence Awards
Communications and social media campaign

By promoting Australasian Women in Emergencies Day, and recognising and celebrating the women in your workplace, your organisation can help demonstrate its commitment to gender equity.

October 10 is Australasian Women in Emergencies Day (AWE Day), a day to recognise and celebrate women in emergencies and disaster resilience.

Women bring unique skills and strengths to all areas of disaster resilience and emergency management, and their insights and expertise help build resilience across Australasia.

This AWE Day let’s recognise and celebrate all women who work, volunteer or study in emergency services, community or not-for-profit organisations, governments or agencies, universities or schools, and private businesses and organisations. #womeninemergencies.

AWE President Bridget Tehan said,

“AWE recognise the invaluable contributions of women who, whether in emergency services, community or not-for-profit organisations, government agencies, universities, schools, or private businesses, have continuously demonstrated their unwavering commitment, passion, exceptional skills, vast experience, and profound expertise to the emergency management and disaster resilience sector. To the incredible women in our sector, your contributions do not go unnoticed. May this AWE Day serve as a beacon, encouraging all of us, regardless of gender, to appreciate, support, and stand alongside the women who continue to do amazing things in our field.”

Useful Links

AWE home page: www.awenetwork.org.au

AWE Day webpage: www.awenetwork.org.au/awe-day

Forum registration/event page: https://events.humanitix.com/awe-day-forum

AWE Excellence Awards: www.awenetwork.org.au/awards

15/09/2023 – Upper Great Southern Leaders Forum 2023

15/09/2023 No Comments

The Upper Great Southern Leaders Forum 2023 convened at Narrogin on Saturday 19th August 2023. At the invitation of Superintendent Craig Smith, SESVA Vice President Alan Hawke attended on behalf of the President, Greg Cook.

The aim of the Leaders Forum was to enhance knowledge, promote growth and provide an opportunity for fellowship. BGU leaders from the region were treated to very informative and thought-provoking presentations:

Lithium battery hazards with Adam Whitford: I’ll never leave my lithium batteries on charge unsupervised again!

Dealing with children with Lynelle Fozard: Youth are our future.

State Logistics and SWORD SES with Lyndon Jackson: There’s a lot of great logistics equipment to support major incidents.

Effective leadership “Be” with Geoff Stewart: Leadership is about self, people and relationships.

Leading cultural change through uncertainty with Mike House: We can learn to Thrive and Adapt under pressure.

On the road towards resilience with Steve Wickham: If you are going through hell … keep going?

Canada deployment learnings with Blake Halford: The environment influences risks – understand the hazards.

Emotional intelligence with DFES Chaplain Dennis Sudla: Adversity forges resilience.

The Q&A session after the presentations revealed administration, training and recognition of prior learning are common causes of concern among many volunteer services.

The Forum’s proceedings ended with an evening of conviviality over dinner at the Albert Facey Motel Restaurant.

SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated

One Association - Many Values