As the SES continually changes to reflect the community needs, so the many terms and acronyms used also change.
To assist State Emergency Service Volunteers, the SESVA has researched acronyms used in the emergency services and compiled a list of as many as possible.
This list will be updated on a regular basis as new and changing acronyms are advised.
Instructions
- You can use the search box to find specific acronyms.
- The search looks for matches in both columns, so check down the left column for matches.
- If you think a particular acronym should be added to the list, please email sesva.webmaster@ses-wa.asn.au with the details.
Important
- Initially, there should be a list of acronyms displayed below the search box.
If this is not the case, try refreshing the page before continuing.
| 1.4 | type of fire appliance 1000 litres of water and 4 wheel drive |
| 2.4 | type of fire appliance 2000 litres of water and 4 wheel drive |
| 3.4 | type of fire appliance |
| 3000 | litres of water and 4 wheel drive |
| ABC | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
| AC | Assistant Commissioner (1 down from Deputy Commissioner) |
| AC | Advisory Committee (see SESAC) |
ACIC | Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission |
| ACOO | (no longer in use) Assistant Chief Operations Officer (FESA) |
| ACSES | Australian Council of States and Territories Emergency Services |
| AEMC | Australian Emergency Management Committee |
| AEMVF | Australian Emergency Management Volunteer Forum |
| AFAC | Australasian Fire and Emergency Service Authorities Council |
| AFSM | Australian Fire Service Medal |
| AGD | Attorney-General's Department (Australian Government) |
| Agency | A controlling or support agency i.e. DFES; DEC; LG; WAPOL etc |
| AGI | Agrifoods Training Package |
AHIMS | All Hazards Incident Management System |
| AIIMS | Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System and |
| AM | (no longer in use) Area Manager |
APM | Australian Police Medal |
| AQF | Australian Qualifications Framework |
| AQTF | Australian Quality Training Framework |
| AS/NZS | Australian Standard / New Zealand Standard |
| ATSB | Australian Transport Safety Bureau |
| ATWC | Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (in Canberra) |
| ATWG | Australian Tsunami Working Group |
| ATWS | Australian Tsunami Warning System |
| AVL | Automatic Vehicle Location |
| AVBFB | Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades of WA |
| AWARE | All West Australians Reducing Emergencies |
| BA | Breathing Apparatus |
| BCP | Business Continuity Plan |
| BE | Built Environment |
| BFAC | Bush Fire Advisory Committee |
| BFB | Bush Fire Brigade |
| BFLO | Bush Fire Liaison Officer |
| BFS | Bush Fire Service of WA |
| BFSCC | (no longer in use) Bush Fire Service Consultative Committee |
| BGR | Basic General Rescue |
| BITRE | Bureau of Infrastructure; Transport and Regional Economics |
| BMP | Bush Fire Mitigation Program |
| BMR | (no longer in use) Basic Mass Rescue |
| BoM | Bureau of Meteorology |
| BRAG | Bush Fire Ready Action Group |
| BSZ | Business Service Certificate IV |
| CAD | Computer Aided Dispatch |
| CaLD | Culturally and Linguistically Diverse |
CAPA | Combined Aerial Pumper Appliance |
| CB | Citizen Band (Radio) |
| CBA | Competency Based Assessment |
| CBFCO | Chief Bush Fire Control Officer |
| CBR | Chemical; Biological; Radiological |
| CBRN | Chemical; Biological; Radiological & Nuclear |
| CBT | Competency Based Training |
| CC | (no longer in use) Consultative Committee |
| CD | Counter Disaster |
| CD | Civil Defence ( forerunner to SESs in Australia) |
| CDEMCWG | Catastrophic Disaster Emergency Management Capability Working Group |
| CEMO | Community Emergency Management Officer |
| CEO | Chief Executive Officer |
| CFA | Country Fire Authority (Victoria) |
| CFRS | Career Fire and Rescue Service |
| CFS | Country Fire Service (South Australia) |
CHC | Criminal History Checks |
| CHOGM | Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting |
| CLT | (DFES) Corporate Leadership Team (DFES Commissioner; DCs; ACs; EDs ) |
| CLT | (old FESA) Corporate Leadership Team (CEO; FESA EDs) |
| CO | Competent |
| CoAG | Council of Australian Governments |
| COMCEN | Communications Centre (as in DFES) |
| COO | (no longer in use) Chief Operations Officer (FESA) |
| CoVESA | Coalition of Volunteer Emergency Service Associations |
| CPFS | (Department for) Child Protection and Family Services |
| CRC | Cooperative Research Centre |
| CT | Counter-Terrorism |
| CWIS | Community Warning and Information System |
| DART | Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (buoy) |
| DAFWA | Department of Agriculture and Food |
| DAIP | Disability Access and Inclusion Plan |
| DBA | Direct Brigade Alarm (Fire) |
| DC | Deputy Commissioner (1 down from Commissioner) |
| DCBFCO | Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer |
| DCP | (old; see CPFS) Department for Child Protection |
| DEC | (no longer in use; see DPaW & DER) Department of Environment and Conservation |
| DEMC | District Emergency Management Committee |
| DEMTT | District Emergency Management Training Team |
| DER | Department of Environment Regulation |
| DFES | Dept. of Fire and Emergency Services (WA) |
| DIA | Dept. of Indigenous Affairs |
| DIT | Dept. of Infrastructure and Transport |
| DM | (no longer in use) District Manager |
| DO | District Officer (was called District Manager pre DFES) |
| DOAC | District Operations Advisory Committee |
| DoCEP | Department of Consumer and Employment Protection |
| DoD | Department of Defence |
| DoH | Department of Health |
| DoIR | Department of Industry and Resources |
| DoTARS | (no longer in use) Department of Transport and Regional Services (Aust. Govt.) |
| DPC | Department of the Premier and Cabinet |
| DPI | Department for Planning and Infrastructure |
| DPaW | Department of Parks and Wildlife |
| DSC | Disability Services Commission |
| DTAC | District Training Advisory Committee |
EAP | Employee Assistance Program |
| ECC | Emergency Coordination Centre |
| ED | Executive Director |
| EM | Emergency Management |
| EM2000 | SES Reporting System |
| EMA | Emergency Management Authority (Federal Agency) |
| EM | Act Emergency Management Act 2005 (WA) |
| EMWA | Emergency Management WA (for whole of government) |
| EOC | Emergency Operations Centre |
ERA | Economic Regulation Authority |
| ERHS | Emergency Rescue Helicopter Service |
| ERM | Emergency Risk Management |
| ESAMC | Emergency Services Associations Management Committee |
| ESC | Emergency Services Cadets |
ESCC | Emergency Service Cadet Corps |
| ESCS | Emergency Service Communications Strategy |
| ESL | Emergency Services Levy |
| ESM | Emergency Services Medal |
| ESO | Emergency Service Organisations |
| ESS | Emergency Services Subcommittee (of the SEMC) |
| ESVA | Emergency Services Volunteers Association |
| EXO | Executive Officer (as per ESAMC) |
| F4P | Fit for Purpose |
| FaHCSIA | (Department of )Families; Housing; Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (Australian Government) |
| FCAD | FESA Computer Aided Dispatch System |
| FCO | Fire Control Officer |
| FCP | Forward Control Point |
| FEDOG | Fire Equipment Development Officers Group |
| FER | Further Evidence Required |
| FESA | (no longer in use) Fire and Emergency Services Authority of Western Australia |
| FF | Fire Fighter |
| FIRS | Fire Incident Reporting System |
| FMD | Foot and Mouth Disease |
| FMP | Fire Management Plans |
| FPI | Forest Products Industry |
| FPMC | Flood Plain Management Committee |
| FRS | (no longer in use) Fire and Rescue Service ( WA) |
| FRSCC | (no longer in use) Fire and Rescue Service Consultative Committee |
| FSC | Field Search Controller |
| FSM | Fire Service Medal |
| GA | Geoscience Australia (Federal Agency) |
| GIS | Geographic Information System |
| GPA | General purpose appliance |
| GPS | Global positioning system |
GRU | General Rescue Utility |
| GR | General Rescue |
| GSA | Government Skills Australia |
GVM | Gross Vehicle Mass |
HAAP | Honours and Awards Panel for Commonwealth Awards |
HAS | WA Emergency Services Volunteers Hardship Assistance Scheme |
| HAZMAT | Hazardous Materials |
| HEAT | Hazardous Material Emergency Advisory Team |
| HELITAC | Water bombing helicopter (rotary wing aircraft) |
| HLT | Health Training Package |
| HMA | Hazard Management Agency |
| HMO | Hazard Management Officer (under the WA EM Act) |
| IBMC | Interagency Bushfire Management Committee |
| IBSA | Innovation and Business Skills Australia |
| IC | Incident Controller |
| ICC | Incident Control Centre |
| ICS | Incident Control System |
| ICT | Information and Communication Technology |
| ICV | Incident Control Vehicle |
| IERM | Introduction to Emergency Risk Management |
| IMS | Incident Management System |
| IMT | Incident Management Team |
| IOC | Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission (as in UNESCO) part of ocean disaster warning research |
| ISC | Industry Skills Council |
| ISG | Incident Support Group |
| IT | Information Technology |
| ITC | Industry Training Council |
| IWG | Inter-agency Working Group – for the ES legislative review started in 2013 |
| JAFFA | Juvenile and Family Fire Awareness |
| JATWC | Joint Australian Tsunami Warning Centre (GA and BoM) |
| KIC | Kwinana Industries Council |
| LEMC | Local Emergency Management Committee |
| LG | Local Government |
| LGGS | Local Government Grants Scheme (related to ESL) |
| LM | Land Management |
| LSS | Lifeline Services Subcommittee (of the SEMC) |
| LSTL | Land Search Team Leader |
| LSTM | Land Search Team Member |
| MCF | Mobile Communications Facility (DEC) |
| MCPEM-EM | Ministerial Council for Police & Emergency Management – Emergency Management |
| MEMEG | (no longer in use) Metropolitan Emergency Management Executive Group |
| MET | Major Emergency Team |
| MIMIC | Major Incident Management for Incident Controllers |
| MIMMS | Major Incident Medical Management Support |
| MIR | Major Incident Review |
| MLO | Media Liaison Officer |
| MoU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| MPAO | Media and Public Affairs Officer |
| MPMM | Method123 Project Management Methodology |
| MROC | Metropolitan Regional Operations Centre |
| MRWA | Main Roads Western Australia |
| NAFC | National Aerial Fire-fighting Centre |
| NCSWG | National Community Safety Working Group |
| NCTC | National Counter-Terrorism Committee |
| NDMP | Natural Disaster Mitigation Program |
NDRC | National Disaster Rescue Challenge |
| NDRRA | Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements |
| NEVSF | (ended in June 2008) National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund |
| NOAA | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| NRAAG | National Assessment Advisory Group |
| NRIS | National Registration and Inquiry System |
| NSIM | National Spatial and Information Management |
| NSSC | National Skills Standards Council |
| NUSARWG | National Urban Search and Rescue Working Group |
| NURE | Navigate in Urban and Rural Environments |
| NVF | Non Volunteer Firefighter |
| OAM | Operations Area Manager |
| OAM | Order of Australia Medal |
| OASG | Operational Area Support Group |
| OCS&E | Operate Communications Systems and Equipment |
OEP | Operational Efficiency Payments |
OFP | Operational Fleet Project |
| OIC | Officer in Charge |
| OMS | Operational Management System (fire) |
ORRD | DFES Operational Resource Review and Development |
| OTO | (no longer in use) Operations and Training officer (SES) |
| P2P | Portal to Progress (DFES progressive ideas portal) |
PAT | Progress Advisory Team |
| PAT | Project Action Team |
| PC | Personnel Carrier (Landcruiser) |
| PIA | Post Incident Analysis |
| PING | Public Information Group (of the SEMC) |
| PLCC | Presumptive Legislation Consultative Committee |
| PMEL | Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory |
| PPE | Personal Protective Equipment |
| PPRR | Prevention Preparedness Response Recovery |
| PSITAB | Public Safety Industry Training Advisory Board |
PSM | Public Service Medal |
| PTA | Public Transport Authority |
| PUA | Public Safety Training Package |
| RAAF | Royal Australian Air Force |
| RAP | Reconciliation Action Plan |
| RAR | Road Accident Rescue (SES) |
| RCC | Recognised Current Competency |
| RCC | Rescue Coordination Centre (Canberra) |
| RCR | Road Crash Rescue (Fire and Rescue) |
| RECCI | Reconnaissance |
| RFMP | (now part of NDMP) Regional Flood Mitigation Program |
| RHQ | Regional Headquarters |
| RIC | Remote Indigenous Community |
| RICAC | Remote Indigenous Communities Advisory Committee |
| RMS | Resource Management System |
| ROAC | Regional Operations Advisory Committee |
| ROC | Regional Operations Centre |
| RoC | Record of Completion (training term) |
| ROIP | Radio Over Internet Protocol |
| RPL | Recognised Prior Learning |
| RSS | Recovery Services Subcommittee (of the SEMC) |
| RTO | Registered Training Organisation |
| S/A | Senior Assessor |
| SA | Staging Area |
| SAP | Standing Administration Procedure |
| SAR | Search and Rescue |
| SARMC | Search and Rescue Mission Controller |
| SECG | State Emergency Co-ordination Group |
| SEMC | State Emergency Management Committee |
| SEOC | State Emergency Operations Centre (WAPOL Maylands) |
| SES | State Emergency Service |
| SESAC | State Emergency Service Advisory Committee |
| SESCC | (no longer in use) State Emergency Service Consultative Committee |
| SESVA | State Emergency Service Volunteers Association of WA (inc) |
| SEWS | Standard Emergency Warning Signal (national) |
| SITREP | Situation Report – Incident Operations |
| SIWG | Spatial Information Working Group (of the SMC) |
| SJA | St. John Ambulance |
| SLIP | Shared Land Information Platform |
| SLIP-EM | Shared Land Information Platform – Emergency Management |
| SMC | State Mitigation Committee (of the SEMC) |
| SME | Subject Matter Expert |
| SMS | Short Message Service (mobile phones or trunked mobile radio) |
| SOI | Southern Oscillation Index – used by BoM in planning outlook for cyclone season activity |
| SRI | Sports & Recognition Indoor |
| SRO | Sports & Recreation Outdoor |
| SO | Station Officer |
| SO | Scientific Officer |
| SOC | State Operations Centre |
| SOP | Standing Operating Procedure |
| SRCC | State Recovery Coordination Committee |
TA | Trainer Assessor |
| T/A | Trainer Assessor |
| TAA | Certificate IV in Training & Assessment |
| TAC | Training Accreditation Council |
| TAE | Certificate IV in Training & Education |
| TC | Tropical Cyclone |
| TFB | Total Fire Bans |
| TLI | Transport & Logistics Industry |
| UCL | Unallocated Crown Land |
| UFU | United Firefighters Union |
| UHF | Band Ultra High Frequency (range 402 MHz – 512 MHz) |
| UHF | CB UHF Citizens Band Service (channels - 477 MHz) |
| UMR | Un-Managed Reserves |
| USAR | Urban Search and Rescue |
| VAC | (no longer in use) SES Volunteer Advisory Committee – original name |
| VAS | Volunteer Assistance Scheme (Welfare Fund) |
| VVEAC | Volunteer Vehicle & Equipment Advisory Committee |
| VES | Volunteer Emergency Service (an‘FES Unit’ under part 3 of the FES Act 1998) |
| VET | Vocational Education & Training |
| VFRS | Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service |
| VFS | Volunteer Fire Service (BFB & VFRS) |
| VHF | Very High Frequency (range 30 MHz to 300 MHz) |
| VHF | High Band Very High Frequency High Band (range 148 MHz - 174 MHz) |
| VHF | Marine Very High Frequency Standard Marine (channels 156 MHz to 163 MHz) |
| VHF | Mid Band Very High Frequency Mid Band (range 70 MHz - 87.5 MHz) |
| VICG | Volunteer Insurance Consultative Group |
| VKW200 | SES Radio call sign |
| VLO | Volunteer Liaison Officer |
| VMRS | Volunteer Marine Rescue Services |
| VMRSCC | (no longer in use) Volunteer Marine Rescue Services Consultative Committee |
| VOIP | Voice Over Internet Protocol |
| VOS | Volunteer Opinion Survey |
| VR | Vertical Rescue (SES term) |
| VTAG | Volunteer Training Advisory Group |
| WAERN | Western Australian Emergency Radio Network |
| WALGA | WA Local Government Association |
| WALIS | Western Australian Land Information System |
| WANDRRA | WA Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements |
| WAPOL | Western Australia Police |
| WASES | (no longer in use) WA State Emergency Service |
| WEOC | Work in an Emergency Operations Centre |
| Westplan | WA state emergency management plan. There are a number of Westplans covering different hazards eg; Westplan Cyclone; Westplan Welfare etc. |
| WG | Working Group |
| WTTME | (ended in June 2008) Working Together to Manage Emergencies |
