SES Volunteer's Association of Western Australia Incorporated

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SES Volunteer's Association of Western Australia Incorporated

03/94/2025 – from the SESVA President April 2025

03/04/2025 No Comments

FROM THE SESVA PRESIDENT

Dear SES members,

As we reflect on the recent deployments to Queensland and the Pilbara (Port Hedland, Karratha and Marble Bar), I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional efforts of our State Emergency Service (SES) volunteer members who were gratefully supported by DFES Workers.

Your leadership, dedication, and unwavering commitment to service have not only made a significant impact on our operations but have also inspired those around you.

The challenges faced during these deployments were met with resilience and professionalism, showcasing the true spirit of teamwork and collaboration. Your ability to navigate complex situations and provide guidance has been instrumental in ensuring the success of our mission in Queensland and the Pilbara.

Thank you for your hard work and for embodying the values we hold dear. Together, we are making a difference in our communities, and I am proud to stand alongside such a talented and dedicated group of individuals.

Following the WA State election on 8 March 25, we welcome a new Minister from the re-elected Labor government. A warm welcome to Hon Paul Papalia CSC MLA, Minister for Emergency Services; Corrective Services; Defence Industries; Veterans; Racing and Gaming.

We must not forget the fine works completed by Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, now the Minister for Regional Development; Ports; Science and Innovation; Medical Research; Kimberley. Thank you so much for being approachable and understanding during your time as our minister.

Kind Regards, Greg Cook,

President WA SESVA.

03/04/2025 – 2025 W-AFAC Conference – Nominate to attend

03/04/2025 No Comments

Get ready, because the 2025 W-AFAC Conference is coming and it’s shaping up to be an event you won’t want to miss!

The 2025 W-AFAC Conference is an incredible opportunity for volunteers around the State to be part of this three-day development program designed especially for volunteers.

From the evening of Tuesday, 26 August through to Friday, 29 August 2025 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, volunteers will be treated to a comprehensive conference program featuring:​

  • Exhibition opening and welcome event (6pm to 8pm): Opening of the fire and emergency services exhibition hall with 200 exhibitors plus conference welcome and networking event.
  • AFAC Conference program: Two days of engaging presentations, workshops, panel discussions and access to the exhibition hall with daily live demonstrations on all things emergency services.
  • DFES Tours: Exclusive tours of DFES facilities, a behind-the-scenes opportunity to meet the teams behind the operations.
  • WAFES Awards gala dinner: An evening to celebrate the outstanding contributions of volunteers and fire and emergency services personnel across WA.

Volunteers can nominate to attend the conference through this link.

Nominations must be received by Friday 23 May.

Local Managers  have been invited to nominate volunteers from their too, so you can also have a chat with your leader about being nominated to attend.

As with all good things, places are limited and those who have not had the opportunity to attend an AFAC or WAFES conference before will be given priority.

For further information visit the Volunteer Hub.

25/03/2025 – SESVA Management Committee – 6th February meeting

25/03/2025 No Comments

Summary of Key Agenda Items

Member reports

• Expressions of interest are being sought for Management Committee vacancies from SES member units in the Kimberley region and the Goldfields-Midlands regions.

• Stirling SES unit are relocating to new premises. The SESVA was instrumental in securing government funding for Stirling’s new premises.

Legislation Working Group

• The paper setting out the SESVA-WA’s position on behalf of the SES units on community empowerment and the future of SES in WA will be provided for approval by the Management Committee ready for distribution before end of February. The paper provides further explanation of the recommendations published in the SESVA Position Paper in May 2024 and proposes a separate command structure that was developed in consultation with WA SES units and DFES.

Media and PR Strategy sub committee

• At the sub-committee meeting held 16 January 2025 the volunteers focused on strategies related to social media policy/procedures, internal communications, stakeholder engagement, media liaison, the production of an SESVA style guide and review of SESVA branding.

Succession Planning

• President Greg Cook discussed succession planning strategies with Management Committee members and the importance of maintaining a healthy relationship with SES units to secure interest from volunteers to fill future Management Committee vacancies.

Discussion Paper—Bushfire Training for SES/VMR

• 40 SES units responded to the SESVA questionnaire on this topic with every unit agreeing to moving to the Bushfire Fundamentals course. A few units said no to the currency drill. A few units also indicated that they don’t provide Bushfire Safety Awareness currency training but indicated support for the Bushfire Fundamentals course.

Discussion Paper— SES Training

• The SES Training Discussion Paper was approved by the SESVA Management Committee for distribution to SES Unit managers for their consideration and support. It is intended that the recommendations be used to gain and maintain national recognition of SES qualifications for volunteers. A questionnaire will be provided for Local Managers to provide feedback in early March.

18/03/2025 – From the SESVA President March 2025

18/03/2025 No Comments

From the SESVA  President

Once again, a warm hello to you.

This month, I will share some simple thoughts on the back of the release of the second SES legislation position paper to our Units, the Minister and Government, and DFES.

The Association understands that SES Volunteers may not be fully aware of the many behind-the-scenes hours members of the Executive and Committee have invested in creating our position statements.

The SES Volunteers of Western Australia provide a community level response that, in many cases, changes from one town to the next. These largely unknown contributions to the WA community need to be recognised in the WA Government’s Climate Adaption Strategy.

For the SES Volunteers, recognition comes through provision of facilities, equipment and vehicles that that meet our changing needs and satisfy the demands of a modern emergency service.

Whilst it is gratifying to see that our cousins in the Fire Services have been handsomely funded through election promises, let’s not forget the wider purpose.

Natural Hazards such as floods, cyclones, storms, earthquakes, and tsunamis do not happen regularly, but when they do, the very best emergency service response is immediately required for the impacted communities. Local investment in the capability of the SES is essential.

“People will talk behind your back. Don’t worry. They are behind you for a reason.”

Keep your strength with positive intent; resources to aid us must come. Kind Regards,

Greg Cook President, SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated

 

 

 

 

Greg Cook SESVA President

18/03/2025 – SESVA Announcement SES Volunteers to join Young Emerging Leaders Program

18/03/2025 No Comments

Lilika Allum, Nannup SES, has been selected to join Jack Watson, Tom Price SES, in Canberra for the National Memorial Service in Canberra on Thursday 01 May 2025.

Lilika is the successful applicant for the 2025 Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders (YEL) Program and Jack automatically qualifies for the Program as the 2024 winner of the SES Youth Achievement Award. Both can now participate in the National Memorial Service in Canberra on Thursday 01 May 2025 with all expenses being covered by the National SES Volunteers Association (National SESVA).

A total of eight applications were considered by the selection panel which had the difficult task of choosing just one SES young emerging leader to participate in the Program.

The Program has been established to support the development of young SES volunteers in WA and is aligned with the National SESVA YEL Program, in which young SES volunteers from all Australian jurisdictions come together at the Memorial Service each year. 

While in Canberra, the young volunteers will get the chance to meet the Governor-General and the Commissioners of emergency services from other jurisdictions, among other interesting activities organised by the National SESVA.

Congratulations to both Lilika and Jack on being selected for the Bernie McNamara SES Young Emerging Leaders Program. 

“Our SES in WA and the community we serve can be very proud of the these young volunteers and the other seven outstanding applicants – our young volunteers are our future.”.

Regards,
GREG COOK
SESVA PRESIDENT
SES Volunteers Association (Inc.)

 

 

18/03/2025 – SESVA Newsletter March 2025

18/03/2025 No Comments
Open Newsletter as a PDF

Articles in this Month's Edition

Click the Newsletter button above to read these articles

In this months newsletter you will find interesting and informative news items including:

  • From the SESVA President
  • Bernie McNamara- SES Young Emerging Leaders Program
  • SESVA Raffle
  • Our newsletter is changing
  • Training matters
  • SESVA Management Committee meeting February notes
  • Our future – The SES in WA
  • SES Responds to Cyclone Zelia
  • SESVA visits the Pilbara
  • Mandurah SES thanks retiring Member
  • and many more articles
Please take the time to open the full newsletter to read all the interesting and informative articles

Contact Us

Office Street Address: 91 Leake St Belmont 6104
SESVA Postal Address: PO Box 3218 BELMONT WA 6104
sesva.office@ses-wa.asn.au  or sesva.secretary@ses-wa.asn.au

Webmaster – sesva.webmaster@ses-wa.asn.au

Website by Ian Hakanson

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SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated acknowledges the funding from the Department of Fire and Emergency Services that support the operation of the Association.