PRODUCED BY AND FOR THE VICTORIAN SES VOLUNTEERS
ISSUE 175 FEBRUARY 2015
Printpost Approved PP 100001634
PLANNING THE FUTURE TOGETHER SES TRIUMPHANT • PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARDS
Team
in times of need Allianz is proud to support the SES. Because it matters As one of Australia’s leading insurance providers, we are committed to helping our local communities and are proud to support the important work of the Victorian State Emergency Service.
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CONTRIBUTIONS Letters to the editor If you have a point of view you feel would be of benefit to VICSES, or a request for any article which other members may be able to help source, mail it to PHOENIX. If your Unit has a need to publicise an event or Unit activity, send it to PHOENIX. Content for Phoenix Photography should only be supplied digitally or as original prints (please supply stamped, self-addressed envelope for returning). Please avoid scanning of any type. Text should be supplied electronically as a Microsoft Word document. Closing date for all PHOENIX material: April 2015 edition – Monday March 9 June 2015 edition – Monday May 11 August 2015 edition – Friday July 10 October 2015 edition – Monday September 14 December 2015 edition – Monday November 9 February 2016 edition – Monday January 11
Send all articles to:
E-mail: phoenixeditor@vesa.com.au cc: director.sw@vesa.com.au
Unit Data Website: http://vesa.com.au/members
Contents 2
Gippsland Inland Marine Search and Rescue Training
7
Planning the Future Together: VICSES Service Delivery Strategy 2015
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Brimbank Awarded the Essential Services Excellence Award
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David Smith Recognised for “Service Above Self”
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Congratulations Narre Warren
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Students Capture the VICSES Safety Message
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Photo Identification Cards
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The Duel Continues, SES Triumphant!
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Health and Wellbeing
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Thanks to you all
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What’s On
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Rosedale Unit and Rosedale Fire Brigade Join Forces
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SES Bulletin December 2014
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Traffic Management During Emergencies
VESA CONTACTS VESA Shop Manager Mr Neil Hedger E: vesashop@vesa.com.au PO Box 353, Port Fairy, 3284 VESA Phoenix Editor & Mailing List Enquiries To add, edit or delete members to mail list or password and technical support contact: E: phoenixeditor@vesa.com.au
Advertisers Alert Countrywide Austral is appointed by the Victoria Emergency Service Association as the authorised publisher of PHOENIX. For enquiries re advertising in this magazine, please contact the printers and publishers:
COUNTRYWIDE AUSTRAL Level 2, 310 King St, Melbourne GPO Box 2466, Melbourne 3001 Ph: (03) 9937 0200 Fax: (03) 9937 0201 E-mail: admin@cwaustral.com.au ACN: 30 086 202 093 Design/Layout Jason Jeffery & Kathryn Steel
VESA STATE BOARD EXECUTIVE & STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS INDEPENDENT CHAIRPERSON Faye Bendrups
DIRECTOR SOUTH WEST REGION Mr Neil Hedger
M: 0435 964 455 E: fayebendrups@hotmail.com
M: 0407 362 879 E: director.sw@vesa.com.au
TREASURER DIRECTOR NORTH EAST REGION Mr Chris Brown
ALTERNATE DIRECTOR CENTRAL EAST REGION David Rowlands
M: 0417 550 076 E: chairman@vesa.com.au E: director.ne@vesa.com.au
M: 0423 777 633 E: director.ce@vesa.com.au
SECRETARY DIRECTOR VESA CENTRAL WEST Mr Chris Patton
DIRECTOR NORTH WEST REGION Mr Pat Torney E: director.nw@vesa.com.au
M: 0407 310 555 E: secretary@vesa.com.au E: director.cw@vesa.com.au
DIRECTOR EAST REGION Mr Bob Aisbett M: 0427 532 093 E: director.er@vesa.com.au
VICSES PEER SUPPORT
DIRECTOR MID-WEST REGION Vacant
Peer Support can be accessed at any time by ringing 1800 899 927 and asking for SES Peer Support (EAS Paging). Peter Kueffer Clinical Director can be contacted on mobile 0417 565 927 or by ringing 1800 899 927 (EAS Paging).
CHAPLAINS CONTACT DETAILS CENTRAL REGION Major Arthur Ford
NORTH WEST REGION Rev David Mills
EAST REGION Judy McLeod
SOUTH WEST REGION Rev Denise Naish
SOUTH WEST REGION Rev David Thompson
CENTRAL REGION Graham Thurley
MID WEST REGION Fr David Turner
CENTRAL REGION Rev Max Woolcock
M: 0416 085 634
M: 0427 383 538
M: 0425 708 730
M: 0417 106 672
M: 0417 347 821
M: 0407 466 356
M: 0407 128 077
M: 0418 517 685
Disclaimer Countrywide Austral (“Publisher”) advises that the contents of this publication are at the sole discretion of the Victoria Emergency Service Association Inc. (VESA) and the publication is offered for background information purposes only. The publication has been formulated in good faith and the Publisher believes its contents to be accurate, however, the contents do not amount to a recommendation (either expressly or by implication) and should not be relied upon in lieu of specific professional advice. The Publisher disclaims all responsibility for any loss or damage which may be incurred by any reader relying upon the information contained in the publication whether that loss or damage is caused by any fault or negligence on the part of the publisher, its directors and employees. Copyright All advertisements appearing in this publication are subject to copyright and may not be reproduced except with the consent of the owner of the copyright. Advertising Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser.
The data that VESA holds for its members is solely used for the production and distribution of Phoenix and associated products.
FEATURE
GIPPSLAND INLAND MARINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING ON SATURDAY 13 AND SUNDAY 14 NOVEMBER, GIPPSLAND REGION RESCUE BOAT CREWS TOOK TO THE WATER AGAIN FOR INLAND MARINE SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING, INCLUDING A RESCUE BOAT CREWPERSONS COURSE AND FIELD COMMUNICATIONS TRAINING.
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he practical training conducted at Lake Glenmaggie near Heyfield, offered the perfect on-water training environment for VICSES coxswains and crewpersons in testing their range of marine search and rescue (MSAR) skills. Scenarios included improvised launching, on-water search for a capsized vessel, emergency procedures, cargo and logistics handling, communications, anchoring and towing a disabled vessel. The weekend also included an on-water MSAR training exercise involving a vessel that had collided with a submerged tree with three people on-board with varying injuries, including one person who was unconscious. VICSES members set up and maintained a base camp utilising equipment from the Gippsland Region staging area cache and utilised resources such as the
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FEATURE
new Field Operations Vehicle (FOV) for base communications. The members demonstrated how a rescue boat taskforce could be deployed into a remote location and be self-sufficient for several days. Members camped in tents and prepared all meals as a team for the weekend. VICSES vesa.com.au
Operations Communications attended and provided all members with an operational induction on the new FOV. The weekend was deemed a success, with 12 new members completing VICSES rescue boat crewperson qualification and five rescue boat coxswains conducting
on-water operational skills maintenance operating the various vessels from units across Gippsland. Submitted by Stuart Beales Manager Regional Operations Readiness, East Region February 2015
PHOENIX 3
REWARDS YOU
1300 131 809
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Membership of APS Benefits automatically entitles you to a funeral benefit issued by APS Benefits. You should consider the Combined Product Disclosure Statement & Financial Services Guide (available from APS Benefits or our website on www.apsbs.com.au) before making a decision to become a member of APS Benefits or buy any products offered by APS Benefits. Financial services provided by Australian Public Service Benevolent Society Ltd are provided under its AFSL No. 244115. APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 305923) of Patron Financial Advice (“Patron”). Financial services provided by APS Financial Planning Pty Ltd are provided under Patron’s AFSL No. 307379. APS Savings Disclaimer: This is not a bank product, it is an unlisted APS Note. No independent assessment has been made about the risk to investors losing any of their principal investment. Applications for APS Notes can only be made on the Investment Application Form which accompanies the prospectus issued by APS Savings Ltd. Please read the prospectus carefully before deciding whether to make an investment. APS Wills & Estates: Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation.
APS Tax & Accounting
Richard Ferraro at APS Tax, Accounting and Business Services is an experienced CPA taxation accountant. Whether it is setting up a business, managing your superannuation fund or just obtaining quality service, Richard can help you.
APS Financial Planning
Timothy Foster provides access to advice and information on the important financial decisions we all face, whether it be superannuation, investments, pre and post retirement planning, life insurance, gearing, disability and trauma insurance, managed funds or savings plans.
APS Mortgage Broking
Sam Athans treats every mortgage as if it were his own. He has access to 20 mortgage lenders and has over 40 years experience in banking. Let us do the leg work for you.
APS Insurance (General Insurance Broking)
APS Benevolent Foundation donations $467,652
Danielle Rowe heads our insurance broking team and is a salaried employee of APS Benefits. With over 15 years experience in the industry, Danielle has access to insurance products that include home and contents, motor vehicle, boat/caravan, landlord, public liability, income protection, life, disability & trauma. The next time you receive your insurance renewal notice or want insurance for the first time, call Danielle on 1300 131 809.
APS Personal Loans
APS Benefits provides unsecured Everyday Loans up to $15,000, Special Purpose Loans up to $30,000 and secured car, track, caravan or motorbike loans. Call the loans team on 1300 131 809.
APS Funeral Cover. Adult & Child Cover Available.
APS Benefits Membership Coordinator Jesse Clarke can assist members to gain immediate funeral cover up to $20,000 for adults and $7,000 for dependent children (aged 2 to 15 next birthday). Do you have cover in the greatest time of need? Call us on 1300 131 809.
APS Savings
Target $500,000 WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
APS Savings Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of APS Benefits and offers a Fixed Term Investment product. Ask Sam Athans about the interest rate on offer and you will be pleasantly suprised. The term can be 30 days, 6 months, 12 months or 24 months. Call us on 1300 131 809.
APS Wills & Estates
Phil Lambourne from APS Wills & Estates has over 25 years experience as a lawyer. Phil can help you with wills, powers of attorney, probate and estate administration. Is your will up-to-date? Have you reviewed your will recently? It affects more than just you!
APS Benevolent Foundation
Recently launched, the Foundation is a registered charity and a deductible gift recipient. Donations above $2 are tax deductible. The Foundation will enable the Society to expand our level of benevolence. Need to know more? Call us on 1300 131 809. Further to this, APS Benefits is owned by its members, so any profits are channelled back to members. Help spread the word by introducing new members and APS Benefits will send you, your nominated charity or your staff social club $50 for each new member you nominated.
For more information call us on 1300 131 809 or visit www.apsbs.com.au
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Ph: (03) 8742 3353 www.candyfdc.com.au
• Full time/part time or casual care • Occasional care • Emergency care • Before and after school care • Overnight care • 24 hour care • Weekend care Every family has different needs and we are there to support and help families in times when they need day care services for their loved ones. Our range of services are designed and packaged to impress you and your childs. Proudly Supporting Our Local SES Volunteers. "The worst in nature The best in us"
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Mob: (0470) 658 101 Very Proud To Support The Wonderful Efforts Of All Our SES Volunteers The Next Life They Save May Be Yours
FEATURE
The issues facing VICSES in the next 10 years were discussed at the Central Region Unit Controllers forum in November 2014. Workshops are being held around the State in February and March. Check the project home page on the Extranet for more information.
PLANNING THE FUTURE TOGETHER:
VICSES SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY 2025 WORK HAS ALREADY COMMENCED DEVELOPING A SERVICE DELIVERY STRATEGY TO HELP IDENTIFY WHAT SERVICES VICSES WILL DELIVER TO OUR COMMUNITIES IN THE FUTURE. THE STRATEGY WILL LOOK AT WHAT, WHERE AND HOW THOSE SERVICES CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY DELIVERED.
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onsultation with volunteers and staff has already commenced in Central and North East regions. The full consultation program was launched at the end of December on the Extranet at My State > Projects > Current projects > Service delivery strategy. 95 per cent of the people who make up VICSES are volunteers. Understanding what volunteers (and staff) think about the services Victorian communities will need over the next 10 or so years is
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critical to developing the Service Delivery Strategy 2025. Over the last 10 years, the emergency services sector has been impacted by some very serious events including the Black Saturday bushfires and the floods of 201011. The hazards we face have changed and the communities living in Victoria have changed, and will continue do so. As an organisation, VICSES has also changed. We have become an Independent Statutory Authority. We have grown
as a professional emergency service by implementing organisation-wide programs, systems and processes to help deliver vital services to communities across Victoria. Please take this opportuntiy to have your say. You can respond to the discussion paper(s) or join the discussion on the SES Link forum. An online survey is due to be launched at the end of January 2015. Workshops are planned around the state through February and March 2015 and these dates will be promoted through the Extranet and your region. February 2015
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FEATURE
BRIMBANK AWARDED THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARD VICTORIA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE BRIMBANK UNIT HAS BEEN AWARDED THE ESSENTIAL SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARD AS PART OF THE BRIMBANK CITY COUNCIL AUSTRALIA DAY CELEBRATIONS.
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wards were presented in seven categories and celebrated the achievements and contributions made by outstanding members of the Brimbank community. The award was accepted on behalf of the Unit members by Controller Claudelle Dalgleish and Deputy Controller Brad Dalgleish. Chair of Brimbank Administrators Mr John Watson congratulated all 2015 nominees, finalists and recipients. “Council is pleased to be able to publicly recognise and thank those people who are making an outstanding contribution to our City,” Mr Watson said. The VICSES Brimbank Unit was established in 1982 and currently has 58 active members who undertake a number of diverse roles within the busy Unit. In the last financial year, the Unit attended to 682 requests for assistance throughout the City of Brimbank which included three significant storm events as well as assisting police with a number of search and rescue operations. “It is an honour to receive this award in recognition of the service our members provide to the community,” said Claudelle.
L-R: Alex Koroneous (Brimbank City Council), Claudelle Dalgleish and Brad Dalgleish (Brimbank Unit).
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Web: www.cfsolutions.com.au
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Proudly Supporting Our Local SES Volunteers “The worst in nature - The best in us”
Proudly Supporting Our Local SES Volunteers “The worst in nature - The best in us”
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FEATURE
DAVID SMITH, CONTROLLER OF WHITEHORSE SES, RECOGNISED FOR “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” YARRA BEND ROTARY HELD ITS INAUGURAL BOROONDARA EMERGENCY SERVICES AWARD ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2014.
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he award recognises the ideal of Rotary “Service Above Self ”. Individual services nominated members of their organisation who had gone out of their way to serve the community of Boroondara and surrounds. David Smith, Controller of Whitehorse SES (formerly known as Nunawading SES), was selected as overall winner from a distinguished group of people dedicated to serving their community. David was recognised for his tireless work as a volunteer since 1995, providing emergency assistance and specialist search and rescue leadership in the community and beyond. Congratulations go to the following winners: • David Nicholson from MFB • Claire Oliveri from Ambulance Victoria • Detective Senior Sergeant Daryl Cullen from Victoria Police The overall award carrying a perpetual trophy and $5,000 prize was presented to David by the City of Boroondara Mayor and Yarra Bend Rotary President. David is donating the prize to the Whitehorse SES to
Award recipients group photo.
purchase vital rescue equipment to continue the professional service the volunteers provide to their community. VICSES was well represented on the night by volunteers from Malvern, Nunawading and Regional staff. Joe Buffone, Deputy Commissioner Emergency Management Victoria, gave a keynote address and paid tribute to the work of local emergency service workers and congratulated Yarra Bend Rotary on its initiative in establishing the award. Further information about the Emergency Service award can be found on the Yarra Bend Rotary website www.yarrabendrotary.com.au
L-R: Mayor of the City of Boroondara Coral Ross, Whitehorse SES Unit Controller David Smith and Yarra Bend Rotary President Tony Boyd.
L-R: Cate Smith, Whitehorse SES Unit Controller David Smith, Central Regional Manager Ray Jasper, Chief Operations Officer Trevor White.
CONGRATULATIONS NARRE WARREN VICSES NARRE WARREN UNIT WAS AWARDED A LA TROBE COMMUNITY AWARD DURING A CEREMONY LAST YEAR.
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he Unit, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was recognised for the significant contribution it has made to the community in attending over 8,000 requests for assistance since it was established. 43 volunteers make up the membership of the Narre Warren Unit who come from all walks of life and respond to requests from the local community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Unit also runs yearly awareness campaigns and produces resources to facilitate a variety of community education activities across the City of Casey. Narre Warren Deputy Controller Tim Howell said, “all the dedicated volunteers at VICSES Narre Warren Unit are very proud to receive the recognition.” “Ordinarily these awards are given to individual members of the community so it is great to see the entire Unit recognised and rewarded for teamwork,” he said. The award was presented by the Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood and attended by Narre Warren VICSES members Tim Howell, Erin Bradshaw, Tony Jackson, Bill Knight and Mark Ruyssenaers (pictured).
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FEATURE
STUDENTS CAPTURE THE VICSES SAFETY MESSAGE CREATIVE YEAR 2 STUDENTS FROM PARK ORCHARDS PRIMARY SCHOOL HAVE PRODUCED A BEAUTIFUL COLLECTION OF ARTWORK AFTER A RECENT VISIT FROM THE VICSES MANNINGHAM UNIT.
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uring the visit, students learned all about the sort of things Victoria State Emergency Service volunteers do and how they can help during an emergency. They took part in activities that covered what you need in an emergency kit and what sort of things you might find in floodwater as well as a demonstration of the VICSES rescue truck. The students also took home important safety messages like ‘never enter floodwater’ and ‘call 132 500 for SES assistance’. VICSES volunteer Sue Whitten, the organiser of the visit, was delighted with the children’s enthusiasm. “By creating an exciting and engaging environment during these visits, children will be more likely to remember and share important safety messages with their friends and families resulting in a community that is better prepared and knows what to do during emergencies,” she said. VICSES visits to schools and youth groups are an important part of keeping communities prepared and aware of their risk. If you would like to register your interest in the free education program covering the topics of floods, storms and how to prepare for emergencies delivered by VICSES volunteers across Victoria, please fill in the VICSES schools visits form.
Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical 8 / 1880 Hume Hwy, Campbellfield Web: www.snowman.com.au Proudly Supporting Our Local SES Volunteers “The worst in nature - The best in us”
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PHOTO IDENTIFICATION CARDS TWELVE MONTHS HAVE PASSED SINCE CHANGES WERE IMPLEMENTED TO THE VOLUNTEER IDENTIFICATION CARD PROCESS. AT THE TIME OF WRITING THIS ARTICLE, 1,014 IDENTIFICATION CARDS HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED.
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hese cards should be carried during all VICSES-approved activities and produced upon request by a member of the public or emergency service organisation. Process and system improvements have seen: • quicker delivery times of photo identification, • easier and a more efficient way of ordering cards. Who receives a photo identification card? Identification is supplied to the following VICSES members: • operational response, • operational support, • junior members. Associate members or SES cadets do not receive VICSES photo identification. When will members receive a photo identification card? For operational response and operational support members, photo identification cards are initially supplied at the end of your three-month probation period, or when current VICSES photo identification has expired. Refer to 1.01 Membership Policy for further information. For junior members, photo identification is supplied at the point of registration. Refer to 1.03 Junior Members Policy for further information. Or visit the Extranet at Library > Policies and standing orders. How to order a photo identification card Step 1: Take a digital photograph of yourself using a: • digital camera, • smart phone, • web camera or tablet device. The photograph must adhere to the following guidelines: • No greater than 1MB in size (the closer the better), • A coloured background is acceptable, • Preferred for members to be in correct PPC&E, • Photos should be as consistent as possible to passport guidelines, • No hair covering facial features, • Spectacles should be worn if normally used and there should be no reflection on the lenses, • The photograph should have an even exposure, • You should face the camera directly. vesa.com.au
Guidelines on taking photograph You should face the camera directly. Incorrect
Correct
Background should be plain white. Incorrect
Correct
Facial image is too big. Shoulders not entirely visible/hair cropped off. Incorrect
Correct
Facial features should be clearly evident in the photo. Incorrect
Correct
The photograph should have an even exposure. Incorrect
Correct
Spectacles should be worn if normally used. There should be no reflection on the eyeglases. Incorrect
Correct
If your photo meets these requirements, your identification card will be ordered and delivered to your regional office within 7-10 business days. To ensure prompt processing and delivery please ensure that all orders are placed before 0800hrs every Tuesday morning.
Step 2: Email your photo as a jpg to your regional office, using the following naming convention: • First name and surname followed by member number eg, John Smith 123456.
For further information relating to photo identification, refer to the VICSES Extranet at My State > People > Volunteers > Volunteer identification.
Submitted by Brad Dalgleish Volunteer Support Officer Team Leader, Human Resources February 2015
PHOENIX 11
FEATURE
THE DUEL CONTINUES,
SES TRIUM N 25 YEARS ON AND THE SWAN HILL SES UNIT DUCK RACE CONTINUES TO BE A SUCCESSFUL FUND RAISER.
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o tin rattles, no street stalls, no raffles. December is the one month of the year that the Unit does not operationally train. We put all our efforts into selling duck tickets. Every Thursday night, every Saturday morning, our aim is to sell 2,000 of the little yellow quackers before the race deadline of 2pm on January 1 each year. 2015 saw 1,700 sold: that’s $8,500 to go towards a new vehicle. The Honourable Peter Walsh, Leader of the National Party, was in attendance and was kind enough to present four of the seven prizes to the winning ticket holders. Before the duck race, the annual duel between the Swan Hill Fire Brigade and the Swan Hill SES Unit heats up. With ammunition ready, the rules and safety
briefing start the raft race. It looked like once again the SES team would be well and truly beaten by the young guns of the CFA. However, our guys (and gal) knuckled down and concentrated on paddling, ignoring the raining clouds of flour bombs and coloured water to be easy winners in the end. The second time our name is on the winning raft shield in four years. Look out next year Swan Hill Fire Brigade boys, we now have the formula down pat – though there could be another competing raft next year with Peter Walsh saying he would enter a politician’s raft. The more the merrier, bring it on. Submitted by Julie Jochs Deputy Controller, Swan Hill SES Unit
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FEATURE
MPHANT! vesa.com.au
February 2015
PHOENIX 13
HEALTH
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Step it up! pedometer program Congratulations to the winners of our second and third round competitions, South Barwon and Bendigo Units! Two rounds and two very different results: South Barwon Unit blew the competition out of the water with an 11-point lead securing their win, while Bendigo Unit had Orbost and Seymour Units nipping at their heels till the finish line, outdoing them by a mere three points! Both teams fought fiercely with weekly pre-training group fitness sessions and phenomenal step counts. Here’s what our winning participants at South Barwon had to say about the program: What was the best thing about the program? “Being more aware of how much I have moved during the day. I hadn’t used a pedometer before and I was interested to see how often I achieved the 10,000 steps per day.” Did the program help to increase your awareness of your usual daily activity levels? “Yes, counting the number of steps I did a day did make me aware of how inactive I was on lazy days. Sometimes it was a wake up call to get out after dinner and walk the dog to get a few more steps up. I was on leave for part of
Allison Williams-Rees, a winning Bendigo Unit stepper. Allison averaged just over 13,500 steps each day!
the challenge and would do around 12,000 steps a day. My first day back at work I did only 1,800 steps. I now make sure I get out for a walk at lunch to get moving.” Any final comments? “It was great doing it as part of a team. I thought I was doing pretty well but seeing the efforts of a few other South Barwon members encouraged me to get out some more.” All South Barwon Unit members agreed that they enjoyed facilitating the program within the Unit, one member confessing that he “enjoyed peer pressuring others to join the program” too! All participants recommend that other units get involved: “I thought it was fun and participation was easy!” South Barwon Unit’s Health Champion Peter Ryan is keen to lead his team to victory in the 2015 challenge!
This is one program that I would recommend to everyone as it can be individual or a unit activity and can inspire those that don’t normally participate in physical activity to get out there and just walk for the better health of themselves and you will soon reap the benefits of such simple activity.
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Braden Verity and Mike Fitzpatrick, our health champions at Bendigo Unit, nominated Allison Williams-Rees to be their team’s spokesperson, due to her outstanding efforts and motivation during the challenge. Allison shares Bendigo Unit’s success story: “I found the best thing about the program was that it gave our Unit and volunteers the opportunity to participate in a group activity which would contribute to the final outcome and fitted all levels of fitness and time available to each person without boundaries.
“I found it exciting, probably because of the competitive element.” Kate Speirs, South Barwon Unit
As a very active person fitness-wise at all times, this program still increased my awareness of how much more I could achieve personally. Knowing that every step was counted for a purpose, I increased the amount of extra walks and was vigilant on having the step counter on me from morning to night which was always very surprising at the end of the day as to just how many steps we do without realising. For those that took part in our Unit there was always the incentives to see if someone could beat the previous week’s step winner, which was an extra challenge for everyone and got some amazing counts each week which was such a credit to all. Our Unit has had a personal training session two nights a week for the past three years which has been something that we have been committed to and encourage each other regardless of fitness level or age to do what you feel capable of and at least we are out there moving and keeping active by doing something. We are looking forward to again participating in the next step challenge.”
Monthly topics Tune in for (or look back on) weekly tips: • Stay hydrated, Jan! • FebFast • Macro March • Step it up! April 2015 vesa.com.au
HEALTH Step it up! Winner – highest step count Alison Toma, a member of the Frankston Unit and staff member of the Victoria State Office Step it up! team was awarded a Samsonite DuraNXT lightweight travel case for her outstanding effort in the challenge. Alison was the member with the highest individual weekly step count for the third round of the 2014 Step it up! miniseries. Here is what she had to say about her experience within the program: “I used the ‘I’m too busy to exercise’ excuse before starting the program. It encourages you to push yourself that little bit further. Now I go to kickboxing classes twice a week and have incorporated a weight session for either day. I will jog a couple of times a week just to keep my cardio up and have also been on the 5:2 diet for two months”. Think you have what it takes to be the 2015 Step it up! victors? Register your team today by heading to the Extranet and following the prompts on the home page!
Our message is to stand up, sit less and move more. Alternating between sitting and standing will increase muscular contractions, stimulating blood flow and resulting in more calories burnt and healthier blood sugar levels.
So how we can do this? 1. Changing or rotating productive tasks 2. Changing how you complete a task 3. Standing/walking meetings 4. Taking breaks. Read more on the Extranet at My State > Safety > WHS Updates.
Let’s get physical VICSES specific exercise programs are available for all members and their families. All exercise can be accessed online and are accompanied by a video demonstration, making the programs easy to follow!
Download the help sheet and get started! My State > Safety > Health and Wellbeing
Alternatively, head to the esohealthwatch website for additional exercise videos. http://esohealthwatch.gov.au/ To book your unit for free health checks please contact the Health and Wellbeing team at health&safety@ses.vic.gov.au
VICSES is teaming up with VicHealth to get you H3O Challenge – what’s this all about? Well, it’s about you, and it’s about water. It’s about decreasing your health risks and increasing your body’s performance. The best part – you choose when to start! Check out the challenge at http://h30challenge. com.au/ and get your unit started today! AND you can book your unit in for a free Preventing type 2 diabetes presentation.
This evidence-based program is delivered at your unit by certified health professionals. The session covers the associated risk factors, prevention techniques, and strategies to change behaviours. Those at high risk may be eligible to participate in the DiabetesVic Life! health coaching course. Contact health&safety@ses.vic.gov.au for more information.
Submitted by VICSES Health and Wellbeing Team Contact: health&safety@vic.ses.gov.au
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PHOENIX 15
s k n a Th FEATURE
TO YOU ALL
AS I GOT OUT OF A CAB TODAY, THE DRIVER ASKED ME TO PASS ON THANKS TO ALL AT SES. I was wearing my SES polo shirt. He said he sees so much bad stuff happen and the SES is always there helping out; he said he didn’t know what our communities would do without us. I told him I would certainly pass on the thanks and here it is, Thanks to you all. It got me to thinking about his statement, and what our communities would do without us. What did they do before we were here? At the end of the day it’s helping our communities get on their way, back to normal; it may be a new normal, a new house because of the flooding, a new car because we had to cut the doors off to get them out, a new roof because of the tree we had to remove that had crashed through it, but it is “normal”. As our response aids their recovery, so should our education of preparedness. Our response to calls for assistance come in thick and fast during a flood or storm event, but in times of calm weather
let’s keep our commitment to our communities and help them to help themselves. Community education around the risks of flood, storm, tsunami and earthquake is sometimes a lonely, dull conversation and no amount of talking will stop that storm, but the effects of it can be minimised. Tie down that trampoline, clean your gutters, the list goes on. Responsibility for oneself seems to be just part of the ‘good old days’. Think of new ways to get our message of preparedness out there, but above all, live as we would have others do. Lead by example and stay safe! And once again, thanks to you all. Submitted by Rayleigh Vandermost Community Resilience Coordinator, South West Region – Geelong Office
Dealing with emergencies, accidents and injuries is a part of your life.
The Salvation Army proudly supports the SES Volunteers. 16 PHOENIX
February 2015
Keeping your first aid skills up-to-date gives you the confidence to do what needs to be done in an emergency, without hesitation. St John is Australia’s leader in first aid and provides hands-on in-depth courses year-round, throughout Australia. Having an up-to-date St John first aid kit on hand can help you make the most of your first aid training.
vesa.com.au
FEATURE
WHAT’S ON $5
Greater Dandenong SES Major Raffle – $5000 Family Holiday Draw
* Return economy class airfares with Virgin Australia to the Gold Coast (based on a saver fare)
Name:
* 7 nights accommodation in a family room at Paradise Resort Gold Coast, including Kids Stay and Play Free: - 1 x fully supervised session per child 0-12 years inclusive per day in the Zone 4 Kids Club. - Unlimited entry to the Zone 4 Kids Waterpark.
Address:
* Avis car hire of a Hyundai i20 or similar to be collected on arrival to the Gold Coast airport and returned on the day of departure to the Gold Coast airport.
Phone:
Raffle to be drawn Thursday April 30th, 2015. Winner will be notified by phone and published in the Dandenong Journal.
Email:
We thank you for purchasing a ticket and raising funds to go towards the purchase of a brand new rescue truck.
001
vesa.com.au
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Proudly Supported By:
February 2015
PHOENIX 17
FEATURE
ROSEDALE UNIT AND ROSEDALE FIRE BRIGADE JOIN FORCES NEWLY APPOINTED CONTROLLER OF THE VICSES ROSEDALE UNIT, PAUL WHITFIELD, AND ROSEDALE BRIGADE CAPTAIN, LISA MARSHALL, HAVE BOTH TAKEN THE FIRST STEPS IN BUILDING MULTIAGENCY RELATIONSHIPS BY HOSTING A BARBECUE AND FAMILIARISATION SESSION.
P (L-R) Rosedale Unit Controller Paul Whitfield, VICSES Manager Regional Operations Readiness East Region Stuart Beales and CFA Brigade Captain Lisa Marshall.
18 PHOENIX
February 2015
aul and Lisa decided since most of the road incidents they attend are paged to both agencies this was the time to form those closer relationships between the two agencies. The night was represented by both SES volunteers and CFA volunteers. A barbecue hosted by CFA was put on and members from both agencies got to have a chat and a get to know each other night. It was then followed on by a truck familiarisation session on both the VICSES truck and a CFA truck. Both agencies carry a wide variety of equipment to deal with all vesa.com.au
FEATURE
types of hazards and situations, being more familiar with this equipment and its use in an incident is imperitive. It was interesting to see members from both agencies participating and getting familiar with what types of equipment each vehicle carries. CFA members had a chance to use the Holmatro hydraulic equipment they often see VICSES volunteers use at road incidents; they also got to know where the equipment is stored on the vehicle in preparedness to assist if required. Moving forward Paul and Lisa will be setting up joint training nights between the two agencies, not only to form those bonds but to have a better understanding of each agency’s roles and responsibilities. As the emergency services work on an all hazards, all agencies approach to incident management this is a great way to move forward into the future. Congratulations to Paul on his new position and well done to both Lisa and Paul for joining forces for the benefit of the community. Submitted by Jennifer Harnden Training Officer, Staff – East Region, Rosedale Unit and Rosedale CFA vesa.com.au
February 2015
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FEATURE
SES BULLETIN DECEMBER 2014
Assets and Infrastructure PPC&E – Buy Online Buy Online is closing for system maintenance and will be available again at 9am, Tuesday, January 6, 2015. No orders can be placed during this time and the link to access the system is not accessible. Stewart & Heaton, our supplier, will be closing at 4.30pm, Tuesday, December 23, 2014 and will reopen for business at 8am, Monday, January 5, 2015. Please note their last dispatch date for orders will be Monday, December 22, 2014. If you need assistance, please contact your Regional office or assets@ses.vic.gov.au. For further information, please visit the VICSES Extranet at My SES >Equipment.
Emergency Management Planning Municipal Emergency Management Plan audits 2014 The EMP team and Chief Officer would like to thank all the ROEMs and MROEMs for the huge effort they have put in to undertake Municipal Emergency Management Plan (MEMP) audits this year. We had an ambitious work program in 2014 with a final total of 47 audits due. Completing all of these in one calendar year is no easy task and it is thanks to the commitment and dedication of the regions that this was possible. Congratulations also to all the Councils that worked diligently with our ROEMs to achieve exemplary emergency management arrangements. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Engagement Working Group We are currently looking to develop a suite of resources for staff and volunteers to work with Culturally and Liguistically Diverse (CALD) communities in line with the CALD Strategy 2013-2016. In order to do this, we are seeking representatives from across the agency to be involved in a working group. Members of the working group are expected to attend meetings (by teleconference if needed) and will also have a role in: • Assisting in the identification of suitable products for staff and volunteers to work with CALD communities, • Providing feedback on any draft materials,
20 PHOENIX
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• Piloting materials (if appropriate). If you are interested in being involved in the project please register your interest via email education@ses.vic.gov.au. Please include your name, region, unit and contact details. For further information, please contact Frances Taylor, Senior Community Resilience Coordinator on (03) 9256 9042 or email frances.taylor@ses.vic.gov.au.
Finance and Administration Unit Financial Audits 2013-14 The unit financial audit period 2013-14 has concluded, thank you again to those units that have completed the audit requirements. A small number of unit audits are still in progress, and are reminded this audit requirement is now overdue. Note, some units have unfortunately experienced delays by their appointed auditor, and VICSES is in contact with the unit auditors to finalise the audit reports. The efforts of all units in meeting the financial audit requirements are greatly appreciated. The completed audit report provides assurance of unit financial management and good governance. Completing the audit within the specified timeframes demonstrates appropriate financial governance, and secures ongoing subsidy funding for your unit. Additionally, the audit report is needed to complete the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission reporting. For support on overdue audit requirements, please contact your Regional VSO, or Claire Farmer, AccountantVolunteer Support on (03) 9256 9000 or email claire.farmer@ses.vic.gov.au. Unit financial management tips There have been a few common feedback suggestions for improvement by the various unit auditors, a timely reminder of some important unit financial processes: • More than just one unit member should be aware of where and how the unit finances are recorded. Please ensure your unit Finance Officer has support and back-up! • Unit Controllers are to record approval of unit payments (eg by an approval form/slip, or writing/stamping and signing on unit invoices) • Bank reconciliation reports are prepared monthly and signed by another member of the Unit Management Team (eg Controller, Deputy Controller).
This enables an independent check and awareness the financial records are regularly updated, and awareness of current unit bank balances. The reconciliation reports should be available to unit members together with bank statements • Misplaced bank statements or invoices can create delays, follow-up queries, and time hunting for documents during the audit review. This can be a frustrating and time consuming process. Have a look at how your unit keeps these important records in order – a simple folder and filing system definitely makes an audit smoother. For support and ideas on improving your unit finances, contact your Regional Office, or Claire Farmer, AccountantVolunteer Support on (03) 9256 9000 or email claire.farmer@ses.vic.gov.au. Unit BAS Q1 Quarter ending Tuesday, September 30, 2014 – completed and refunds processed. If your unit had a BAS payable, please arrange payment of the invoice to be sent to the unit. Q2 Quarter ending Wednesday, December 31, 2014 – due Tuesday, February 10, 2015. Please remember to send the GST report from Cashflow Manager, and submitting via email is preferred. BAS Adjustments – As part of the 201314 audit, your auditor may recommend a GST correction or adjustment for a BAS quarter previously lodged. If needed, adjustments can be included with the next ATO lodgement, please forward GST adjustment details to Claire Farmer on (03) 9256 9000 or email claire.farmer@ses.vic.gov.au. Missed any BAS quarters in 201314? Emails are being sent to several units that have missed a BAS submission for any of the BAS quarters in 2013-14. Please forward any missed quarters to ensure compliance with GST requirements. ACNC reporting update SES Units are registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) – the government body for not-for-profit organisations. VHO is arranging to report to the ACNC on behalf of all units for the 2013-14 financial year, utilising information from each unit’s audit report. If there are further unit details needed (ie details vesa.com.au
FEATURE that may not be clear from the audit record and VICSES records) this will be followed up directly with individual units. It is essential all unit audit reports are completed to ensure compliance with ACNC reporting. Note – the ACNC has VHO as the primary contact for VICSES units, however if your unit does receive any correspondence directly from the ACNC (eg email or post) it would be appreciated if you let Claire Farmer know, email claire.farmer@ses.vic.gov.au. Thank you From the VICSES Finance team we would like to say thank-you to the volunteers who have been busy completing unit financial requirements during 2014. This essential part of VICSES units is acknowledged and appreciated. Best wishes for a happy and safe Christmas.
Human Resources Member Benefits – Emergency Memberlink Program Members with an Emergency Memberlink card expiring on Wednesday, December 31, should receive their new card and member booklet during January. Memberlink will be unable to process new card applications received prior to Wednesday, December 31, until the new year. All VICSES members who pass their probationary period are eligible for the Member Benefits program. Below is a list of some of the discounted benefits available in Victoria and interstate. • Travel and health insurance • Purchase cards – inc. Safeway/ Caltex • Movie tickets • Accommodation and tours • Online shopping. For more details, please visit www. emergencymemberlink.com.au. To sign up and to see what new in the month of December, visit the VICSES Extranet at My State > People > Member Benefits. Electricity discounts Unit expenses are increasing with electricity being a major component. To assist units with redistributing existing funding, VICSES has been able to negotiate improved electricity rates. Initial indications are that units may experience savings up to $8,040 annually (based upon information provided). These discounts are currently only available for units and not individuals. For further information or questions please contact Brad Dalgleish, Volunteer Support Officer Team leader on (03) 9256 9107 or brad.dalgleish@ses.vic.gov.au. vesa.com.au
External Awards
VICSES Nomination forms: My State > People > Honours and awards
www.gg.gov.au
Australian Bravery Decorations
www.gg.gov.au
Order of Australia Emergency Service Medal
www.itsanhonour.gov.au
Form 1.9/10 – ‘ESM Nomination form’
www.gg.gov.au
National Emergency Medal Royal Humane Society (RHSA)
For more information, and to nominate
Form 1.09/4 – ‘Bravery Award Nomination form’
Honours and Awards External Awards The external honours and awards include but are not limited to the above table. The nomination forms for the first three awards are accepted all year round by VICSES but are due bi-annually in May (announced on Australia Day) and November (announced on the Queen’s Birthday). Nomination forms must be completed and submitted to your Unit Controller and/ or Regional Manager for confirmation, where applicable, with as much detail and supporting documentation as possible. For more information, please refer to the Victoria SES Honours and Awards Manual. For support, please contact your respective Volunteer Support Officer in your respective Region.
Information Services Information Services A sign on agreement to be implemented on VICSES computers from January 1, 2015, and will contain the following: “I understand that SES’s computing facilities are provided for work purposes. Use of these facilities must be lawful, efficient, proper, ethical and must be consistent with the organisation’s ICT Acceptable Use policy. “I also understand that SES keeps backups and/or logs of activities undertaken on SES’s computing facilities. All activities conducted using the organisation’s computing facilities may be monitored and/ or accessed by SES. “I hereby agree that while using SES’s computing facilities I will abide by the terms and conditions outlined in the ICT Acceptable Use policy. Any breach of these rules may result in my access being denied or any other disciplinary action as determined by the SES Executive. “I further understand that I may be liable for any damage caused to a third party as a result of any activity by me that breaches the ICT Acceptable Use policy. “By clicking the OK button below, I accept and agree with the terms and conditions set out in the ICT Acceptable Use Policy.”
www.rhsa.org.au
Projects and Grants Service Delivery Strategy – Planning the Future Together Over the last 10 years, the emergency services sector has been impacted by some very serious events including the Black Saturday bushfires and the floods of 201011. The hazards we face have changed and the communities living in Victoria have changed. As an organisation, VICSES has also changed. We have become an independent Statutory Authority. We have grown as a professional emergency service by implementing organisation-wide programs, systems and processes to help deliver vital services to communities across Victoria. 95 per cent of the people who make up VICSES are volunteers. Understanding what volunteers and staff think about the services Victorian communities will need over the next 10 or so years is critical to developing the Service Delivery Strategy 2025. Recognising people like to engage in different ways, there are a few options: • Download and respond to the discussion paper. It is a long read but contains some great information about the issues and challenges we expect to face over the next 10 or so years. • Download and respond to the summary discussion paper, a scaled-down version of the full paper. • Post your thoughts on SES Link. • Attend one of the consultation meetings in your area scheduled for February and March 2015. • Call Sue Pigdon – Project Manager on (03) 9256 9033.
State Operations Field Operations Guide and Operations Management Manual – a new approach to publishing? The Operations Management Manual (OMM), which is published and issued to every unit and operational staff member, is currently under review by State Operations. The Field Operations Guide (FOG), which continued on page 22 February 2015
PHOENIX 21
FEATURE continued from page 21 is issued to every VICSES member, will be reviewed in early 2015. Investigation is underway to determine whether there is a more efficient and cost-effective way to publish these documents, whilst ensuring that they remain valuable tools for use by volunteers and staff. The good news is that, overwhelmingly, volunteers and staff find the documents very useful. They have formed an important part of operational information and will continue to be updated and released. However, the annual printing costs for each of these documents is significant. Additionally, feedback received following publication of both documents has shown that content errors have inadvertently slipped in. These faults cannot be fixed until the following year’s revision. State Operations is currently investigating options to produce both documents in electronic form, so that they can be accessed via the Extranet and possibly on an application for iPad, iPhone and Android devices. The documents would be formatted so that they could be easily printed either in full or just the sections relevant to each volunteer or staff member. Once printed they could be placed into a waterproof booklet (a “Vui Tui”) so they could readily fit in overall pockets. The advantages of this approach would be to reduce publishing costs and to allow members to carry only the information they need or want. It will also be much easier to update, so that the documents remain correct and contemporary, rather than having to wait until the following year for review. A link to a survey to capture the opinions from volunteers and staff on their preferred publishing method has been sent by email to all staff, units and Unit Controllers. If you haven’t seen this, complete the survey and have your say. The survey will be open until December 19, 2014. Depending on the majority views from the survey, further consultation with volunteers and staff will be conducted to determine whether any changes will be made, and the best way to get the vital information out to all volunteers and staff. After Action Review – sharing of observations, findings and insights Some of you may have seen the recent launch of a CFA hosted survey tool to support collection and analysis of observations, findings and insights as experienced by those of you out in the field undertaking activities related to operations. This online tool gives members the chance to share thoughts while they are still fresh, but doesn’t exclude the
22 PHOENIX
February 2015
information being shared in other forums such as hot debriefs, VICSES AAR Surveys or formal AAR debriefs. The Observation Sharing Tool is available to all agencies and all personnel and provides an easily accessible means of capturing successes and opportunities related to the excellent work done serving our communities. The survey itself is very succinct and you can share as much or as little as you wish. It also provides the option to attach relevant documentation such as files and photos. It is important to note that this service does not replace the VICSES Operations Observation Reporting Procedure, SOP066. This SOP describes the process for members to report feedback related to Operational Policy and Procedures and Operational Communications issues (EAS, ESTA and OIMS). If you can, provide feedback through the Observation Sharing Centre directly. Alternatively, the CFA IRS Call Centre can be contacted and the staff can enter details on your behalf. The CFA IRS Call Centre can be contacted on 1800 628 844 during their normal operating hours (0800hrs and 2300hrs). IRS Reporting – resource attendance and civilian casualties, rescue, evacuation blocks From the IRS User Manual – 3.6.5.6 Distance Travelled to Scene – the kilometres travelled field is the distance, in kilometres, to the incident. When analysing road rescue data, a sense check is done to look at time travelled versus distance travelled. The speed estimate generated indicates some vehicles appear to be travelling at much greater speeds than would be expected. On further investigation, it is often found that round trip kilometres are entered instead of one-way kilometres. Good practice is to use the value according to the trip meter on the response vehicle’s odometer (from point of dispatch, usually the unit, to the location of the incident). ‘No. of Civilians Injured’, ‘No. of Civilian Fatalities’ and ‘No. of Persons Rescued’ in ‘Block D’ for Road Rescues – these fields aren’t currently mandatory when entering information and the information isn’t being recorded within IRS in all cases. For example, 94 of 963 (almost 10%) of Road Rescue jobs for 2013-14 with ‘Primary Action Listed’ of ‘Extricated person(s) using tools/without tools’ didn’t have a count for persons rescued. For the purposes of our reporting, an ‘injured civilian’ is someone who did not require extrication but did sustain injuries. If they required extrication (injured or not) then they are counted under ‘rescued persons’. Please review below extract: From the IRS User Manual – 3.2 Block D – Civilian Casualties/Evacuation:
When entering the values for the top three fields which relate to total injured, deceased and rescued, each person involved must only be counted once. The order in which the totals are determined, are as follows: A. No. of Civilian Fatalities – the total number of deceased persons at the scene • Include those that may have been trapped and deceased. B. No. of Persons Rescued – the total number of persons rescued from technical or other entrapment. • Do not include deceased persons in this figure. C. No. of Civilians Injured – the total number of persons at the scene who were injured. • Do not include deceased or rescued persons in this figure. Accurate reporting supports the provision of factual information and our understanding of the important community services delivered by VICSES. Further information can be found in the User Manual for OIMS Incident Management System (IMS) on the Extranet at Systems > OIMS > Manuals. For support, please contact Ian Hawkins, State Operations Data Analyst on (03) 9256 9102 or email ops.data@ses.vic.gov.au.
State Training Controller’s Seminars 2015 Event planning has commenced for the 2015 Controller’s Seminars. There will be a slightly different feel and format this time, with both seminars being held at different locations and the conference over one day only on the Saturday. Nominations will be open in the new year, in the meantime if you would like to nominate to attend, please save the following dates in your diary: • Eastern Regions (Central, East and North East) – Saturday, May 16, 2015, Foothills Conference Centre, 48 Edinburgh Road, Mooroolbark, Melbourne • Western Regions (North West, Mid West and South West) – Saturday, June 20, 2015, Ballarat Lodge, 613 Main Road, Ballarat The Controller’s Seminars are a great opportunity for unit leaders to meet with colleagues from across the regions and to gather up-to-date information about all aspects of VICSES to take back to their unit. There will be a variety of workshops taking place along with a guest speaker in the evening over dinner. For more information about what the past seminars have offered, please take a look at the previous Seminars on the VICSES Extranet at Training > Information for Learners > Upcoming Courses > Controller’s Seminars. For support, please contact your Regional Manager. vesa.com.au
FEATURE Work Health and Safety
Healthwatch bookings for 2015 The Health and Wellbeing team is contacting all Unit Controllers to book for health checks in 2015. If you already have a date in mind please contact us at health&safety@ses.vic.gov.au.
Step it up! pedometer competition winners Congratulations go to the Bendigo Unit, winners of the third round of the 2014 Step it up! challenge. Second place winners are Orbost and Seymour Units and third place goes to Hamilton RHQ. The individual with the highest step count is Alison Toma with 126,622 steps in week 2 of the competition. Ali is a member of the VHO team and also an SES volunteer at the Frankston Unit. Read all about it in this edition of Phoenix. Sign your team up for next challenge in 2015!
Building the team for resilience Units are invited to book in for this onehour session run by Peter Kueffer, Clinical Director. Perfect after your unit health check! Contact us for more information and to book health&safety@ses.vic.gov.au.
2015 Victoria Police and Emergency Services Games The games will be held from Friday, April 10, 2015 to Sunday, April 19, 2015. Catering for all age groups and all abilities, the emphasis is on fitness, fairness and friendship. If you have not taken part in the games before, now is your chance! Posters and pamphlets about the games are coming to your unit and office soon. To register or for more information visit emergencyservicesgames. org.au. Send any enquiries to emergencyservicesgames@ses.vic.gov.au.
Smoking laws in Victoria Following a number of queries regarding smoking at VICSES worksites and operations, we thought it might be useful to remind everyone of the smoking laws as they stand in Victoria, and of VICSES policy. In Victoria the law prohibits smoking in most enclosed workplaces. ‘Enclosed’ includes many structures that are constructed with the intent of providing a sheltered area for smokers – if a structure has a roof and three walls, it is likely to be considered ‘enclosed’. The legislation does exclude vehicles, though VICSES policy does not permit smoking in any VICSES vehicle.
Further, under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers have a responsibility to provide a working environment that is as safe as practical. To meet this duty, controllers of workplaces must take steps to protect people from environmental tobacco smoke, whether or not the workplace is enclosed. In light of this, it is not permitted to smoke in any location where the smoke may enter the workplace. Individuals who smoke, and the workplace they smoke in, can both be fined for breaching the law. It is also an offence under the Environment Protection Act to deposit cigarette butt litter. The penalty is an onthe-spot fine of $150 for extinguished butts and $210 for lit butts. In the case of VICSES workplaces, smoking is prohibited in all VICSES units, offices, warehouses, and vehicles. The other thing to keep in mind is that, if you have a cigarette just before or entering a small workplace, like a vehicle, it can be unpleasant for the non-smokers who are there with you, as the smell of smoke can be strong, and linger. For help to quit smoking, call the Quitline on 137 848, or visit quitnow.gov.au.
www.mccormackproperty.com.au
McCormack Property Services Expect The Very Best 312-314 Hoddle Street, Abbotsford, VIC, 3067
Ph: (03) 9417 1095 Proudly supporting our local SES volunteers. vesa.com.au
February 2015
PHOENIX 23
FEATURE
D
uring an emergency, it is often necessary to temporarily close roads and set up Traffic Management Points (TMP). TMPs are put in place for the safety of both community members and emergency services personnel and may be put in place for a number of reasons including: • The road is inaccessible due to fire or flood • Dangerous trees or debris cover the road • The road has suffered damage or destruction due to a hazard • Roads need to closed to allow emergency service vehicle access. These guidelines have recently been revised to allow greater access for those who wish to protect their properties, provide care to others or feed and attend to livestock or crops. These exceptions only apply where safe and appropriate. TMP – Information Sheet – Road Closures Traffic Management Points are temporary road closures set up during an emergency to protect the safety of people and vehicles travelling into an affected area. They are used to protect the safety of residents, the wider community and emergency services personnel. Risks to safety may include: • The emergency event itself such as a fire or flood • Dangerous trees or debris on the road • Destruction or damage to the road or a bridge • Traffic congestion for response vehicles. During an incident, emergency services will continually review the need for road closures and the appropriate access levels as follows:
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No Entry • Emergency Services Only Restricted • Level B Emergency Services • Safety assessment teams • Residents and business owners (at the discretion of the Incident Controller) Authorised – Level C Level B plus: • Residents • Business owners • Recovery and relief services • Council/VicRoads • Accredited media Authorised – Level D Levels B & C plus: • Road owners • Employees • Persons bringing supplies for people/ animals • Road Open Access levels are determined by Incident Controllers, ie, the people in charge of the situation, and the traffic management point/ road closure is usually staffed by police or other emergency services (like CFA, DEPI, MFB, SES), VicRoads or council staff. What’s changed In December 2014, guidelines were enhanced to provide more flexible access for residents and business owners, where safe and appropriate. This included consideration of ‘early access’ for farmers and others whose livelihoods depend on the access and maintenance of stock, crops, etc. The revised guidelines also have an increased focus on animal welfare. If it is safe and appropriate, the Incident Controller may decide to also give DEPI animal welfare staff
and/or other supporting personnel direct access or access under escort providing there are sufficient resources. Access for beekeepers and others will also be considered. Those provided with early access will need to meet minimum safety requirements including appropriate clothing, communications devices, vehicles and equipment. Gaining access People permitted access at levels B & C will need to provide correct identification. If a person does not have ID or if they need frequent access, they may be issued with a wristband. More information about wristbands can be obtained from a traffic management point or a community location like a recovery centre. It’s important to remember that safety must always come first and access may not always be granted. How to find out which roads are closed You can find out which roads are closed in ‘real time’ either online or via a smart phone. Go to http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/ to view the VicTraffic website and/or download the VicTraffic free app. Alerts will also be available on Twitter. If you don’t have internet access, you can call the VicRoads Traffic Management Centre 24 hours a day, 365 days a year on 13 11 70. This number can also be used to report a fault, hazard or problem on the roads. NOTE: This information has been developed by Emergency Management Victoria in consultation with emergency service agencies.
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