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Welcome to:
The SES Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated (SESVA)
(A prescribed Association for SES Volunteers in WA)
"helping those who help others in the community"
Welcome to the website of the State Emergency Service Volunteers Association of Western Australia Incorporated (SESVA). The SESVA was formed in the late 1980’s with the objective of providing a focus for representing the views of SES Volunteers on issues which affect them. The SESVA has developed the ability to strongly voice the opinion of the volunteers where, when necessary, to the benefit of all the Volunteers of the SES, where the action of a single Volunteer or small group would not be as effective. The SESVA represents SES volunteers on a number of committees and working groups and has regular meetings with DFES.
SESVA Role
SESVA role is to represent the views of SES Volunteers to all levels of Government, DFES and other agencies on all matters affecting SES volunteers and the way in which we serve our communities.
SESVA Committee of Management
There is a Committee of Management to control the Association. The Management Committee consists of the following members:
Powers of the Management Committee
The Management Committee is the deliberative body in the Association with powers to make and direct policy, make, amend, or rescind the Constitution, and generally to take such actions as it considers necessary for the furtherance of the Association and its objects. The general management of the affairs of the Association is vested in the Management Committee.
Executive Council
An executive council, consisting of the President, Vice President, Secretary and any two committee members shall take care of the day to day affairs of the Association. The executive council may authorise payments on behalf of the Association.
Objects of the Association
- Be an independent and representative body of the volunteers of the State Emergency Service of Western Australia and the Volunteer Emergency Service
- Promote and communicate knowledge and information to and amongst the volunteers of the State Emergency Service of Western Australia
- Provide an effective voice for the volunteers of the State Emergency Service of Western Australia
- Operate a fund or trust for the benefit of volunteers of the State Emergency Service of Western Australia
Current SESVA Activities:
- Regular contact with DFES Executive to discuss strategic, policy and high level issues
- Monthly meeting with DFES and stakeholders managers to discuss operational issues
- Membership of subject matter groups, PPE, equipment, communications and vehicles.
- Co-partnering with DFES to organise the annual SES conference and awards night
- Attending AFAC conference
- Attending Local managers meetings
- SESVA website and facebook management
- Publishing SESVA Journal, calendar and diary
- Attending to local issues when requested
- SES Licence Plate Project
- SESVA is currently in discussion with SES Volunteer Associations throughout Australia to look at setting up a National SES Volunteer Association to give all SES Volunteers a national voice. Currently involved and agreed to set up is SA,VIC,ACT,NSW and WA with talks to be held with Tasmania and QLD who at this point do not have a Volunteer Association.
- Development of a strategic plan for the SES Volunteers Association
- A member of the new Emergency Services Volunteers welfare and support fund implementation team
- Member of the Inter-Agency Working Group (IWG) on the review of the Emergency Services Acts
- New SES Flag
LATEST NEWS
You can also read all previous news items in our News Archive
14/05/2013 - Presumptive Legislation Consultative Group - Consultative Paper
Presumptive Legislation Consultative Group - Consultative Paper
If your Unit regularly does Bush Fire support you should read the attached Consultative Paper. Forward any comments to the Acting Secretary SESVA before the end of May. Its a very big document but I would encourage you to read and provide feedback.
View the document ====> Presumptive Legislation - Consultative Paper.pdf
My email address is: bernmac11@bigpond.com
14/05/2013 - Firefighters Memorial Service
INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS’ DAY - MEMORIAL SERVICE 2013
By Phillip Petersen ESM
A memorial service will be held on Friday 10 May 2013 in honour of International Firefighters’ Day. It was an occasion to pause, acknowledge and commemorate the legacy of firefighters who have served and lost their lives in the course of duty. The occasion will also be an opportunity to recognise the work of today’s dedicated career and volunteer firefighters who make such a valuable contribution year round. The service was held at the Firefighters’ Memorial Grove in Kings Park today, a unique place for contemplation that was dedicated in 2000.
13/05/2013 - Well Done SES Mums
Mums are much-needed emergency volunteers
By Kara Vickery Source PerthNow
10/05/2013 - SES Storm Awareness Week
Preparation key to storm safety across Perth metropolitan area ( see the SES storm awareness video click link on bottom of this page)
The State Emergency Services (SES) is urging people across the Perth metropolitan area to start preparing their homes for the coming storm season. Storm Awareness Week is being held from 11 – 18 May this year with people reminded to start securing loose objects, clearing gutters and downpipes and trimming branches while conditions are still mild.
Between May and October each year, storms can bring damaging winds, heavy rainfall, flash flooding and storm surge to southern parts of Western Australia including the metropolitan area. SES spokeperson Assistant Commissioner Bradley Stringer said most storms were localised and short lived, but their devastating impact was often underestimated. “While storms can last for mere minutes, their aftermath can be truly shocking and impact people for days, weeks and even months,” he said.
“Severe storms can include thunder, lightning, hail, flash flooding, tornados and gale force winds, and the best way to protect your home, family and business from these elements is to be prepared.”
10/05/2013 - Training Pathways for SES Volunteers (Important Information
The Training Pathway for SES Volunteers (The Professional Pathways Project)
DFES has commenced work and consultation with the SES Association on a training Pathway Project to provide direction for all SES Volunteer roles. The overall objective of the project is to create a Pathway to detail the skills and knowledge required to perform each SES role. The aim is to provide a clear framework to identify skills and knowledge requirements for current or future roles and ensure standards of training are maintained.
The overall objective of the project is to create a set of training courses and skills needed to meet your job or role requirements within the SES. This will provide clarity for SES Leaders about what is available to develop their teams and visibility for individuals to allow them to manage their own development. The first phase of the project has a focus on Incident Management. This will determine the skills and training Volunteers need to be part of an incident management team.
The project consultation includes a User and Stakeholder Group which was formed via a nomination process and includes Volunteers.
08/05/2013 - SES Awards 2013
SESVA President David Price says it’s time to nominate your volunteers for this year “SES Awards” as nominations are Now Open and it’s time to act. David said as we know SES volunteers play an integral part in the safety of our communities and these awards help recognise outstanding SES volunteers, either individually or as a team, who have gone above and beyond what is expected of them.
I encourage Units to nominate their SES volunteers for these prestigious Awards.
The awards are in the following categories:
Peter Keillor Award – Recognising a volunteer who has gone beyond the call of duty in demonstrating a high level of commitment to the SES.
Team Achievement Award – Recognising a unit or team that has initiated a new idea, worked collectively to achieve outstanding results in a particular area, or undertaken a community awareness project
Youth Achievement Award – Recognising a volunteer 25 years or younger who has made an outstanding contribution to the SES.
All nominees must be active, operational members of their SES unit.
Download the nomination form at: http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/newsandmedia/awards/Pages/sesawards.aspx
Nominations close Friday 31 May 2013
04/05/2013 - SESVA meets DFES to discuss Cancelled Courses
SESVA meets DFES to discuss Cancelled Courses
SESVA met with DFES's training section at Forrestfield on 1 May to express Volunteers disappointment about training courses being cancelled by DFES. The SESVA are angry that these courses were cancelled without due consideration or consultation with the Volunteers. The SESVA also expressed their opinion that these courses could have carried on and any changes could have been addressed by a gap document. The SESVA is fully aware that the SES always had courses of a high level and there was never any risk to the RTO status by SES designed and conducted courses. There is no longer a head of SES in this state nor an SES section dedicated to designing and rolling out training packages.
Here is DFES's official answer for your perusal and comment. DFES advised that the Generic Leadership and Land Search Team Leader courses have both been placed on hold after a review of them was commenced.
03/05/2013 - SESVA meets with Minister
SESVA meets with the Minister for Emergency Services
On the 30 April 2013 SESVA representatives, David Price, Dave Beard, Gordon Hall, John Capes and Bernie McNamara, met with the Emergency Services Minister, Joe Francis. The meeting was set in a relaxed atmosphere with the Minister's adviser on Emergency Services, Jarad Finneran, also in attendance. What was very apparent throughout the meeting was that the Minister and his adviser could empathise with the SESVA and the Volunteers on our issues - they are both Volunteers in an emergency service. A number of issues were discussed and the Minister listened and gave a good hearing to these.