ISSUES MANAGEMENT – SESVA OVERVIEW
SES Units may raise issues that they expect DFES to address, but these issues can lose momentum or be declined.
Under the Fire and Emergency Services Act 1998, each Volunteer Emergency Response Service has an appointed “Prescribed Association” to represent and advocate for its volunteers. For SES Units and volunteers, this association is the State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (SESVA).
SESVA represents the views of SES volunteers to all levels of government, DFES and other agencies on matters affecting volunteers and their service to the community. Each DFES region elects an SESVA representative to serve on the SESVA Committee.
The regional representative is the local contact for SES Units and assists with issues that the Regional Office or DFES has not resolved.
THE PROCESS
To support timely and accurate handling of SES issues, follow this process:
- The SES Unit Manager must submit the issue in writing to the DFES Regional Office (DO), allowing 14 days for a resolution or response.
- If the issue is not resolved satisfactorily, promptly compile all supporting documents, including correspondence and records of conversations. Refer to the Sequence of Events table.
- Complete the attached form and submit it to the regional representative for SESVA action. If no representative is available, submit it to the SESVA Secretary.
- The regional representative checks that the form is complete and that all required documents are attached, then forwards the material to sesva.secretary@ses-wa.asn.au.
- The SESVA Executive raises the issue with DFES and provides feedback to the SES Unit Manager and SESVA representative.