SES Volunteers – SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated

13/07/2026 – Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards

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Do you know of a flexible and supportive employer/workplace that allows volunteers to take time off work to respond to critical incidents and training?

Or perhaps a volunteer who is self-employed, often sacrificing their own working hours during emergencies.

Well… Nominations for the 2026 Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards (VERA) are now open!

VERA acknowledges the important role employers and self-employed volunteers play in our emergency services across Western Australia,
where more than 95 percent of emergency services are volunteers.

Submit your nomination before 9am Monday 27 July 2026: Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards

10/07/2026 – SESVA Notice AGM

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SES Volunteer’s Association of Western Australia Incorporated ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

9:00 am Saturday 12th September 2025

Lecture Theatre, DFES North East Regional Office, 91 Leake Street, Belmont

Unit delegate nomination forms are being emailed direct to each member SES unit.

Call for AGM Agenda Items

WA SESVA AGM Agenda items should be submitted by 9:00 am Thursday 6th August 2026

06/07/2026 – Training matters July 2026

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David MacLean, Acting District Officer, Training Development Support and Compliance SES and Marine Rescue, has provided an update from the Operational Delivery section of the FES Academy:

“We ran the SES Training Program workshop on 13 June with representatives from the SES volunteer body, the SESVA,
District Officers, Training Products and Publications and Trainer Assessor coordination. It was a very intensive day with
discussions ranging from which courses were still relevant to what a new training program should look like. It has left me with a nice chunk of work and the new Training Program should be a more accurate reflection of training progression for our SES volunteers.

1. General Rescue—updates have been completed. These are mainly focused on nail gun conventions following ERAP 02/2026.

2. Next up:

• A full review of the Communications courses. One topic that the Training Program PAT was very clear on is that the communications courses need a lot of love. If there are volunteers or two who are enthusiastic about the radio word please contact DOsesmracademy@dfes.wa.gov.au. We would like a couple of Project Advisory Team members

• Storm and Water Damage Operations (Ground and Roof) need a few little tweaks to reflect the RSS changes. It is fantastic to see so many courses being run at the moment and all the new trainers getting endorsed!

Metro volunteers are answering the call to support regional training with volunteers heading up to the Kimberley to help with a Chainsaw Operator course in a few weeks.”

The Association thanks David for his ongoing support of SES volunteers in WA!

03/07/2026 – Expression of Interest

03/07/2026 No Comments

Association Training Advisory Group - State Emergency Service

MEMBERSHIP

This is an opportunity for SES volunteers to make a difference by participating in a forum for the communication of training information between DFES and SES volunteers.
Several vacancies currently exist for membership of the Association Training Advisory Group – State Emergency Service (ATAG – SES).

The ATAG – SES is a consultative group established under the authority of DFES. The group will usually meet two (2) times per year. Next meeting is Saturday 19th September at 10:30am.

Membership includes at least six SES regional representatives and one SES Volunteers Association representative. Regional representatives are responsible for;
• Disseminating and communicating the minutes of the ATAG – SES to their subgroups and SES volunteers.
• Actively seeking input into deliberations of the ATAG – SES through their respective committees and networks.
• Providing a report to the ATAG – SES.

If you are you interested, send your Expression of Interest to the ATAG – SES Chair, Superintendent Operational Delivery, Matt.Wakeling@dfes.wa.gov.au

03/07/2026 – Role of SESVA Management Committee Members

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The Regional Representatives

The SESVA Management Committee is a deliberative body. The general management of the affairs of the SESVA is vested in the Management Committee.

The Management Committee consists of 12 Regional Representatives, plus a President, three Vice Presidents, Secretary, and Treasurer.

The principal task of the SESVA Management Committee is to do all things necessary to support and represent the interests of SES Volunteers in WA.

Regional representatives are elected for a two-year term in alternate years. SESVA Management Committee members can have a positive impact on the development and growth of the SES community.

They are also afforded the opportunity to develop themselves both professionally and personally while gaining valuable insights and unique experiences through their service to SES volunteers.

Regional Representatives are the SESVA’s conduit with SES units. The SESVA responds to SES Unit volunteers through the Regional Representative and the Unit Manager.

Management Committee members are generally expected to:
• Provide guidance and represent SESVA, supporting effective governance and advocacy
• Actively participate in meetings, prepare in advance, and contribute with independent judgment
• Maintain professionalism, integrity, and protect SESVA’s reputation with all stakeholders
• Liaise with Units appropriately, report insights, and support SESVA advocacy effort
• Show commitment and enthusiasm for the SES.

02/07/2026 – From the SESVA President July 2026

02/07/2026 No Comments

Hello to you

I’m taking some time this month to look at important information in our sector and how it may affect us now and in the future.

DFES appoints a new Deputy Commissioner Operations The Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) welcomes Jon Broomhall AFSM as Deputy Commissioner Operations, commencing 3 August 2026.

Jon Broomhall brings more than 30 years of experience to the role. This includes nearly a lifetime of dedicated service in WA Surf lifesaving and an understanding of the volunteers’ work ethic. We warmly welcome Jon and look forward to creating many positive outcomes for the State Emergency Service Volunteers.

National Test for AusAlert

AusAlert will be ready to use in October 2026, but before it launches, the system needs to be tested across Australia. In a disaster, an AusAlert will tell you the type of emergency, where it’s located, how serious it is and what to do.

On Monday, 27 July 2026, a test alert will be sent to all mobile devices in Australia. This includes most smart-phones, smartwatches, and tablets. The test alert will be
sent at the same time across Australia, at 12:00 pm (AWST) in Western Australia.

H5 Bird Flu

Australia’s first detection of H5N1 Avian Influenza (H5 Bird Flu) was confirmed on Saturday, 20 June in a migratory bird in the Cape Le Grand area, east of Esperance. A second bird found in the area has also tested positive for Bird Flu, with another suspected detection and a confirmed case in South Australia on 24 June.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is the Hazard Management Agency leading the State Bird Flu response, in collaboration with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions and the Department of Health, with national coordination led by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).

Key messages from DPRID and DAFF for the community:
• Avoid contact with sick or dead birds or wildlife
• Record what you see
• Report it to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline
on 1800 675 888. For more information on H5 Bird Flu, visit: Avian Influenza.

Upcoming changes to Fire Weather District boundaries The SES is advised that updated Fire Weather District (FWD) boundaries are expected to be introduced in mid-August 2026 as part of the ongoing refinement of the Australian Fire Danger Rating System (AFDRS). These changes incorporate improved scientific analysis, local knowledge, and stakeholder feedback. The updated districts are intended to improve how fire weather information and fire danger ratings are communicated. View the changes here: https://arcg.is/15C4j50

Thank you once again for doing what you do for whom you do it.
Regards,

Greg Cook ESM
President, WA SESVA

SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated

“Together we can; Together we will”