SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated

Young Emerging Leaders for 2026 announced
2025-12-15 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia
The Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders (YEL) Program is run by the WA SESVA to develop young volunteers in WA.
It is directly aligned with the National SESVA YEL Program and provides an opportunity for two young WA volunteers to participate in the national memorial service and leadership events in Canberra. One spot is automatically awarded to the winner of the annual WA Fire and Emergency Services SES Youth Achievement Award. The other is selected via an application process overseen by a panel from the SESVA of WA.
SES volunteers aged 18 to 30 years are invited to apply by 30 November
Read what the 2024 SES Youth Achievement Award winner, Jack Watson of the Tom Price SES, had to say a􀅌er returning from Canberra in May 2025:
Just got back from an unforgettable trip to Canberra as part of the Young Emerging Leaders (YEL) program. We had the absolute honour of forming a guard of honour at the AFAC National Memorial Service — an incredibly moving experience… but the absolute highlight? Connecting with other YELs from across the country. Hearing everyone’s stories, learning about the differences in how we operate across states and territories, and have real, open discussions about the challenges we face — it was inspiring, eye-opening, and genuinely one of the best experiences I’ve had.
Program activities
The specific schedule of activities varies each year, but typically includes:

Participate in the AFAC National Memorial Service in Canberra.
A chance to meet the Governor General and the Commissioners of emergency services from other areas.
Tours of key national organisations, such as Parliament House, Geoscience Australia, and the National
Emergency Management Agency.

Application process
To be considered, an applicant must:

be a registered SES volunteer in WA aged between 18 and 30 years as at 30 November 2025.
submit a supporting reference from the Local Manager of the applicant’s SES unit.
submit a completed application form to the SESVA Secretary, providing information about themselves on the form, including community and leadership involvement, as well as leadership aspirations and how they see themself as a leader in 5 years. The form can also be requested by email sesva.office@ses-wa.asn.au

Selection Process
The selection panel is made up of independent people, chaired by a SESVA committee member.
Timing

30 November 2025: closing date for applications.
15 December 2025: announcement of the selected candidate(s) for the YEL program 2026.
2026: 4 or 5 days at the end of April/start of May—AFAC

SESVA Management Committee meeting
2025-12-18 18:00 - 20:00, 2026-03-26 18:30 - 20:30 (Australia/Perth) | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia
The SESVA Management Committee members are the persons who, as the management committee of the Association, have the power to manage the Association’s affairs. The committee must take all reasonable steps to ensure that the Association complies with the Act, these rules and the by-laws (if any). Subject to the Act, these rules, the by-laws (if any) and any resolution passed at a general meeting, the committee has the power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for the proper management of the affairs of the Association, and in particular, may: acquire, hold, deal with and dispose of any real and personal property, hold property and equipment as may be provided by any other body upon the terms stipulated by the said body.

SESVA February Update published
2026-02-04 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia
The association newsletter is a communication tool that provides updates, news, and information to members and SES Volunteers. The newsletters can include updates, event announcements, training development resources, career tips, and messages from leadership. They are used to engage Association members and Volunteers, promote participation, and reflect the SESVA mission.

Volunteer Advisory Committee (VAC) Meeting
2026-02-05 08:00 - 17:00 | DFES – Cockburn, 20 Stockton Bend, Cockburn, Western Australia, 6164
The DFES Volunteer Advisory Committees (VACs) in Western Australia represent the five key volunteer emergency services—Marine Rescue, Bush Fire Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services, and State Emergency Service—providing direct advice to the Emergency Services Minister and Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner. These committees, established/renewed in 2023, address strategic matters, sustainability, and operational issues affecting over 26,000 volunteers.

SESVA Executive Council Meeting
2026-02-26 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-04-23 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-06-25 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-08-27 18:30 - 20:30 | SESVA – Online meeting (Teams), 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia
The Executive Council Members (ECM) are elected or appointed to manage SESVA WA’s business and affairs. The ECM’s duties include determining and implementing policies and making decisions consistent with our vision and mission. Their role is about the common good at a state level.

SESVA Autumn Newsletter published
2026-03-04 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia

SESVA Autumn Newsletter published
2026-03-04 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia

Nominations close WAFES Awards
2026-04-08 | DFES – Cockburn, 20 Stockton Bend, Cockburn, Western Australia, 6164

Youth Week WA
2026-04-10 08:00 - 2026-04-16 17:00 | Western Australia
Youth Week WA

Youth Week WA is the biggest celebration of Western Australian young people on the WA calendar, held each year in April. Youth Week WA 2026 will take place from 10 to 16 April 2026.

The Department of Communities is responsible for the overall coordination and promotion of Youth Week WA across a variety of events. To recognise and celebrate young people aged 10 to 25 years we:

deliver an annual grants program for Youth Week WA projects and activities;
appoint four Youth Week WA Ambassadors (Ambassadors) to represent young people across the State
deliver campaigns that celebrate the contributions that young people make in Western Australian communities.

What is Youth Week WA?
The State Government recognises the enormous contribution that young people make to the social, cultural and economic life in Western Australia. Youth Week WA is an opportunity to recognise these valued contributions and provide opportunities for young people to connect across the State.
Youth Week WA aims to:

provide young people with opportunities to express ideas, discuss important community issues, co-design local events and showcase their talents and contributions
give the wider community an opportunity to listen to young people and celebrate their positive contributions

VAC Meeting
2026-05-07 | DFES – Cockburn, 20 Stockton Bend, Cockburn, Western Australia, 6164

AFAC National Memorial Service
2026-05-07 08:00 - 2026-05-08 17:00 | National Emergency Services Memorial, Rond Terrance, Parks, ACT, 2600, Australia
The National Emergency Services Memorial was opened in July 2004 by Prime Minister John Howard, in honour of the thousands of people who have served in Australia’s emergency services organisations. Emergency services is used as a collective description for a wide range of services provided by agencies during incidents and emergencies, and includes career and volunteer workers.
In May 2018, a Memorial Wall was unveiled at the site by The Hon. Angus Taylor MP, Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security. The wall displays the names of emergency services personnel who have been killed in the line of duty, and honours their commitment to keeping our communities safe. The wall was jointly funded by the Commonwealth of Australia and AFAC, the National Council for fire and emergency services in Australia and New Zealand.
The Memorial provides a place for remembrance and quiet reflection for families, colleagues and visitors.
An annual service is held at the Memorial in early May each year to remember those who have died in the line of duty.

Armadale SES Open Day
2026-05-16 | Armadale SES Unit, 53 Owen Road, Kelmscott, Westedrn Australia, 6111, Australia

Metro Forum
2026-05-16 | To be advised, Australia

May National Volunteer Week
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-05-24 17:00 | Western Australia SES Units
National Volunteer Week is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteering.
It recognises the contribution of millions of volunteers across the country and invites everyone to discover how giving their time and talents can create connection, purpose, and stronger communities. We encourage volunteer-involving organisations, governments, researchers, corporates, and other enabling organisations to promote the week and use the available resources to help raise awareness of the contribution volunteers make every day.

THEME

Your Year to Volunteer honours the contributions of volunteers and invites people across Australia to make 2026 a year of meaningful involvement, in ways that work for them. 2026 is the United Nations International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026), recognising the vital role volunteers play in building sustainable, inclusive communities worldwide.
National Volunteer Week 2026 supports IVY 2026 by amplifying the voices of volunteers, celebrating their contributions, and encouraging action to help volunteering thrive across Australia. This year is a moment to thank those who already give their time and to invite others to discover how volunteering can create connection, purpose, and lasting positive change.

Melville SES 50th Anniversary celebration dinner
2026-05-18 19:00 - 22:00 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia

WOW Day 2026
2026-05-20 | Western Australia SES Units
WOW Day stands for Wear Orange Wednesday, a national day in Australia to thank and show appreciation for State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers. It is celebrated during National Volunteer Week and encourages the public to wear orange, organise events, and use social media to recognise SES volunteers who help communities during emergencies like floods, storms, and rescues. Iconic buildings are often lit up orange to mark the occasion.

SESVA Management Committee Meeting
2026-05-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2026-07-23 18:30 - 20:30 | SESVA – Online meeting (Teams), 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia

Thank a First Responder Day
2026-06-10 08:00 - 17:00 | Western Australia SES Units
National First Responders Day is a day set aside to honor and show appreciation for the dedicated people who are the first to arrive and provide assistance during emergencies and critical situations.

Goldfields-Midlands - all service Volunteer Leadership Development Forum
2026-06-13 | Northam DFES

AFAC Conference 2026 in Melbourne
2026-08-18 08:00 - 2026-08-21 17:00 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
Returning to Melbourne, AFAC26 will bring together thousands of emergency management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators to share knowledge, showcase technology, and strengthen connections across the sector.
Your ongoing support and collaboration continue to elevate this event as Australasia’s leading emergency management conference and exhibition.
We look forward to welcoming you to AFAC26, taking place from 18–21 August 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
Let’s continue shaping the future of emergency management, together.
AFAC Conference and Exhibition Industry Recognition
Recognised as the Best Trade Show and Best Event of 2024 at the Australian Business Event Awards, AFAC continues to set the standard for industry excellence. It has also been awarded Best Association Event at the EEAA Awards for Excellence in both 2019 and 2022.

AFAC Conference in Melbourne
2026-08-18 08:00 - 2026-08-23 17:00 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Returning to Melbourne, AFAC26 will bring together thousands of emergency management professionals, industry leaders, and innovators to share knowledge, showcase technology, and strengthen connections across the sector.
Your ongoing support and collaboration continue to elevate this event as Australasia’s leading emergency management conference and exhibition.
We look forward to welcoming you to AFAC26, taking place from 18–21 August 2026 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC).
Let’s continue shaping the future of emergency management, together.
AFAC Conference and Exhibition Industry Recognition
Recognised as the Best Trade Show and Best Event of 2024 at the Australian Business Event Awards, AFAC continues to set the standard for industry excellence. It has also been awarded Best Association Event at the EEAA Awards for Excellence in both 2019 and 2022.

The Conference

AFAC26 Conference & Exhibition runs from 18-21 August 2026, bringing you insights from over 100 expert speakers.
You’ll hear from international and local thought leaders across our multi-streamed AFAC conference.
This includes the Australian Disaster Resilience Conference, Women and Firefighting Australasia (WAFA) and the Institution of Fire Engineers (Australia) National Conference as concurrent streams.
The event concludes with the Professional Development Program on 21 August 2026.

FIND OUT MORE(opens in a new tab)

The Exhibition

Midwest-Goldfields forum
2026-08-22 - 2026-08-23 | To be advised, Australia

2026 WA Fire and Emergency Services Conference & Awards
2026-09-04 08:00 - 2026-09-05 17:00 | Crown Perth, Great Eastern Highway, Burswood, Western Australia, 6100, Australia
The 2026 WA Fire and Emergency Services (WAFES) Conference will be held at Crown Perth, Burswood, from Friday 4 to Saturday 5 September 2026. The conference brings together volunteers, DFES personnel and emergency-service partners from across Western Australia.
Friday 4 September – Tours & networking
Friday is primarily a behind-the-scenes and learning day, with a range of optional tours:

DFES Nerve Centre – State Operations Centre, Metropolitan Operations Centre, Communications Centre and emergency coordination.
Fleet Design, Delivery and Maintenance – visit the DFES O’Connor workshop and see how emergency appliances are designed, built and maintained.
Lithium-ion battery fires – explore the emerging battery-fire threat and visit ChemCentre.
Eye in the Sky – emergency-services aviation at Jandakot Airport, including RAC Rescue.
Bushfire innovation, skills and cultural knowledge – visit the Bushfire Centre of Excellence and learn about modern bushfire training and Cultural Fire practices.
Search and rescue and incident training – Urban Search and Rescue, vertical and confined-space rescue, heavy rescue equipment and virtual-reality training.

Ministerial Volunteer Advisory Forum
1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Volunteers have an opportunity to meet with the Minister for Emergency Services and FES Commissioner Darren Klemm AFSM to discuss current and future issues affecting volunteers and volunteering across WA.
Friday evening – Sundowner
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm | Burswood on Swan
The sundowner provides an opportunity for volunteers and DFES staff to network, catch up with colleagues and see some of the latest DFES initiatives, technology, appliances and vessels.
Conference theme
“Bright Futures, Stronger Services”
The 2026 theme focuses on:

embracing new ideas and innovation
bringing together different generations of volunteers
encouraging emerging volunteers and leaders
strengthening connections across emergency services
developing modern and sustainable emergency-service capability.

Saturday 5 September – Main conference
The main conference program includes keynote presentations and concurrent sessions covering subjects such as interstate deployments, flood intelligence, misinformation during emergencies, climate and weather, vertical rescue, lithium-ion incidents, social media, marine emergencies and contemporary rescue techniques.
The keynote speakers are Jessica Watson OAM and Scott Millar.
Why it is important for SES volunteers
For SES members, the conference provides a valuable opportunity to:
Learn → Network → Share experience → See new technology → Influence the future of volunteering
It is particularly relevant to the SES because many of the sessions address volunteer capability, emerging risks, community engagement, rescue operations, flood intelligence, technology and the future of emergency services.
The SES Volunteers Association of WA also lists the conference as an event on 4 September 2026 at Crown Perth.
In short: Friday 4 September is much more than the opening day—it is an opportunity for WA emergency-service volunteers to get behind the scenes, learn from specialist teams, meet senior decision-makers and see where DFES and the wider emergency-services sector are heading.

National Disaster Rescue Challenge 2026
2026-09-11 08:00 - 2026-09-13 17:00 | Atherton Tablelands
The National Disaster Rescue Challenge brings State Emergency Service (SES) teams from across Australia together to test their rescue skills, teamwork, and leadership in simulated high-pressure emergency scenarios. [1]

Event Overview

What: Multi-scenario disaster response competition including vertical rescue, confined space operations, mass casualty management, and structural collapse simulations. [1, 2]

Who: Winning regional and state SES teams representing their respective state and territory services. [1]

Aim: Build interagency cooperation, share technical rescue knowledge, and evaluate operational readiness under realistic disaster conditions. [1, 2]

For official updates, schedules, and announcements regarding state-level qualifiers or national competitions, check the Queensland State Emergency Service portal or follow the Queensland SES Facebook page

SESVA Annual General Meeting
2026-09-12 09:00 - 10:30 | SESVA office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont, Western Australia, 6104, Australia
SESVA WA Annual General Meeting – 2026 Summary
The SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated (SESVA) will hold its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) on:

Date: Saturday, 12 September 2026
Time: 9:00 am
Venue: DFES North East Regional Office, Lecture Theatre, 91 Leake Street, Belmont WA
Online participation: Microsoft Teams is available for delegates unable to attend in person.

Purpose of the AGM
The AGM is an important part of SESVA’s governance. It provides member Units with an opportunity to:

Receive reports on SESVA’s activities and performance during the past year.
Consider the Association’s financial and governance matters.
Raise questions and provide feedback.
Consider proposed AGM agenda items.
Participate in elections and the appointment of SESVA representatives where required.
Help set the direction and priorities of the Association for the coming year.

Under the SESVA Constitution, the ordinary business of an AGM includes confirming previous minutes and receiving the committee’s annual report and financial reporting.
Unit voting
All member Units are eligible to vote, with each member Unit having one vote. The Unit must nominate an authorised Member Delegate, with the appropriate form signed by both the delegate and the Unit Authorising Officer/Local Manager.
The completed Member Delegate Form must be received by the Returning Officer by Friday, 11 September 2026. Units that do not return the form by the deadline will not be eligible to vote at the AGM.
Key point for SES Units
The 2026 AGM is more than a formal annual requirement. It is an opportunity for SES volunteers and Units across Western Australia to have their voices heard, contribute to the Association’s future direction and ensure SESVA continues to represent the interests of volunteers at the State level.
In short:

The SESVA AGM is the key annual forum where member Units exercise their voting rights, review the Association’s performance, participate in governance and help shape the future representation of SES volunteers in Western Australia.
