Phoenix Journal December 2022

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from the

BOARD

2022: The worst flood year on record nationwide

As this edition goes to print, Victoria is still in the grip of one of the worst flood events in history. Multiple towns in multiple regions are still affected after weeks of rain, overflowing catchments and swollen rivers. The La Niña weather pattern and the effect of the Negative Indian Ocean Dipole have subjected the east coast of Australia to record inundations and communities spread far and wide have been affected. There could be no greater reminder to us of the effects of climate change.

Many people will never return to their homes, sadly some lives have been lost, and many others will be changed forever.

Throughout the continuing disaster, SES volunteers have been working tirelessly, in the local areas and deployed statewide. Regular routines have been put on hold while extraordinary service to the community has continued. In the edition you can read about some of their work and we can acknowledge and respect the immense, selfless effort that volunteers provide for the State of Victoria.

Active operations are not over and the Board of VicSESVA wishes all of our individuals and communities the best of health, safety and support in the coming season. We extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone.

Chairperson chair@vicsesva.org.au

Treasurer treasurer@vicsesva.org.au

Secretary secretary@vicsesva.org.au Volunteer Shop shop@vicsesva.org.au

Phoenix Editor phoenix@vicsesva.org.au

South West Regional Council swrc@vicsesva.org.au

Mid-West Regional Council mwrc@vicsesva.org.au

North West Regional Council nwrc@vicsesva.org.au

North East Regional Council nerc@vicsesva.org.au

East Regional Council erc@vicsesva.org.au

Central East Regional Council cerc@vicsesva.org.au

Central West Regional Council cwrc@vicsesva.org.au

‘THE GREAT WALL OF ECHUCA’

A TOWN DIVIDED

DURING THE OCTOBER/NOVEMBER FLOODS, A SOIL WALL ALMOST THREE KILOMETRES LONG AND TWO METRES HIGH, DUBBED THE ‘GREAT WALL OF ECHUCA’, WAS CONSTRUCTED BY WORKERS AND LOCALS IN A BID TO PROTECT THE ECHUCA TOWN CENTRE FROM FLOODWATERS.

The levee saved most of Echuca from the Murray’s highest flood levels in more than a century (95.28 metres, the highest since 1916) but left homes on the wrong side of the wall inundated by the swollen river. To make matters worse, since the emergency levee was built, houses inside the levee have no outlet for their stormwater, so authorities are pumping it back over the barrier to the other side when it rains.

The Campaspe Shire council issued a statement regarding the Echuca levee on 25 October 2022:

Emergency Management Victoria, the lead agency in Victoria during an emergency event, made the decision on Monday, 17 October that a levee needed to be constructed in Echuca to protect as much of the township as possible.

Based on the flood modelling available in the Incident Control Centre in Bendigo, Emergency Management Victoria had 48 hours to put the levee in place. The levee’s location was decided by Emergency Management Victoria to save as many homes as possible from flooding and at the same time the decision needed to consider the short 48 hour time frame to undertake the work, required height of the levee, plant and equipment access and the engineering requirements for the levee construction.

Campaspe Shire Council was not consulted on the levee’s location or design.

The 3km levee is being built to bolster protection around the township. Using more than 195,000 sandbags so far, the levee is the result of a multi-agency approach from VICSES, CFA, Forest Fire Management Victoria (FFMVic) and the Australian Defence Force.

There are a number of questions and rumours circulating in the community relating to past flood events and whether the appropriate action has been taken.

While it is important to understand historical flood events, of the most significant events in Echuca’s recent history –1974, 1993 and 2010/2011 – they were vastly different events to what the community is currently facing. The main difference is that today all three rivers, the Goulburn, Murray and Campaspe, are all contributing to the current flooding event.

Once we are through the immediate impact of these floods, staff will turn their attention to past learnings, as well as learnings from this event, to inform future planning and possible advocacy to other levels of government to improve local infrastructure and our resilience to future flood events.

Most importantly, we must focus on the current task at hand and the realities we face.

For any resident that feels unsafe, please follow the evacuation warnings that are in place.

The role of local government in an emergency is to support the response and recovery effort and support its residents. In this instance, Campaspe Shire staff are operating the Emergency Relief Centre at the Echuca South Basketball Stadium.

A range of Campaspe Shire staff, including Engineers, Environmental Health Officers, waste services, local laws and road services have worked across the municipality since the flooding started to respond to issues as they arise. Staff who are unable to currently perform their roles have been redeployed into higher priority areas, such as Parks and Gardens staff monitoring flood pumps and Library staff working at the relief centre.

Campaspe Shire’s focus over the coming days and weeks will be on continued service delivery wherever possible and planning for the long-term recovery for our community.

The levee has created controversy in the community, as locals were upset that the levee redirected water towards them while authorities did not offer any assistance to defend their homes. Local man Mark Lia, who is credited by his neighbours as saving seven homes in Echuca East said “We understand if they need to sacrifice us to save them, that’s OK,” he said. “But the thing is, there’s no problem on their side. When they’re not using their equipment, why aren’t they at least letting us use their pumps?” Mark Lia worked for up to 20 hours a day, driving his truck back and forth through the floodwaters with supplies.

People affected argued a decision had been made to pump water from the protected ‘right side’ of the levee towards houses on the ‘wrong side’.

Victoria’s emergency management commissioner, Andrew Crisp, responded: “We need to get to a point where we need to assess what has actually occurred if this levee holds and then at a point in time there will be further discussions with the community”. He added that “the nature of emergency management means that sometimes difficult and challenging decisions need to be made…the temporary levee at Echuca mitigates the flood risk for as much of the community as possible”.

MARIBYRNONG RIVER MAJOR FLOOD

October 2022

The Maribyrnong River runs over 40km from the Macedon Ranges to Port Phillip Bay. It has become a drawcard for the inner North West Maribyrnong municipality for its extensive recreation sites, sports fields, bike paths, gardens and wetlands. It runs directly through the township of Maribyrnong, only 9km from the centre of the City of Melbourne. Here, more than 400 homes are at risk of over-floor flooding. On 14 October 2022, that risk became real, as flood disaster struck.

Since 1871 there have been 27 recorded floods in the Maribyrnong area, with large floods occurring approximately every 10-20 years. The highest recorded flood affecting the Maribyrnong floodplain was in September 1906, and the next known highest was in May 1974. The 1974 flood caused the most damage to homes, industries and public utilities in the Maribyrnong area. Impacts included:

• Traffic gridlocked for 18 hours as the flood cut most of the major access roads across the river

• 370 houses and businesses flooded or cut-off

• $16.5 million in costs (adjusted in 2012)

On Friday 14 October 2022, the Maribyrnong River again flooded. With the river at high tide, days of rainfall and excess water flowing down the Maribyrnong from further upstream, the river height reached over chest high in local residents’ houses. With little notification of the looming disaster, some residents were doorknocked around 4am by the SES and advised to evacuate immediately. Some who received no warning or who did not leave in time sought refuge on rooves or were rescued by local workers before the water height became impassable. In other streets, there was no official warning and residents lost everything when the waters rose.

Like in previous flood events, local streets disappeared in the high water, major thoroughfares were cut off, all public transport stopped. Gardens were reduced to toxic quagmires and houses made uninhabitable. The clean up was overwhelming, council still working weeks after the event to clear the muddy destruction. Many residents will not be able to return to their ruined homes.

SES rescue boat crews swung into action Friday morning collecting people from their flooded homes around Maribyrnong, bringing people and pets to safety, often in dangerous and potentially life-threatening conditions. The waters were flowing at a fast pace, some rescue boat engines could not hold against the surge. Huge dumpster bins were swept along like plastic buckets, narrowly missing SES crews, and even large mooring pontoons from further upriver were dislodged, one crashing into the Raleigh Rd bridge, another washing up on dry land near the Esplanade.

VICSES Footscray Coxswain Brendan Corcoran chronicles the event:

At 0415 hours on Friday October 14, 2022 VICSES Footscray Unit was activated to assist Victoria Police to door knock the Raleigh Road pocket of housing abutting the Maribyrnong River in Maribyrnong which was expected to reach dangerous flood levels. Footscray Unit members Pam Angus (DO), Amanda Stevens, Angus Campbell, Darren Williams, Brendan Williams, Anthony Radl, Michael Bakatsoulas, Adam Tangey, Anna Trang and Brendan Corcoran responded. Members from Essendon Unit, Port Phillip Unit, Chelsea Unit, Fawkner Unit, Whitehorse Unit, Whittlesea Unit and Monash Unit also responded to an urgent call for members to assist.

Victoria Police tasked VICSES with giving immediate evacuation advice to all residents in the area. This area is well recognised as at constant risk of riverine flooding during an extreme rain event. Unfortunately it was obvious within the first half hour of the door knock that the river was rising at an incredible speed and that it would be necessary to have VICSES rescue boats on standby for those residents who were uncontactable or unwilling to evacuate at such short notice in the middle of the night.

The door knock continued until after daybreak and then members were placed on standby at the Maribyrnong Community Centre which was being used as a Staging Area and a relief centre for residents to stay while awaiting news on their properties.

Multiple RFAs from residents who had failed to evacuate from their homes began to arrive and over the next 6 hours Inflatable Rescue Boats from Footscray Unit, Essendon Unit and Whittlesea Unit were deployed to assist.

Footscray Rescue Boat (RB) 598 was launched from the end of Plantation Street, Maribyrnong which by this time was under water 250 metres from the river’s edge during its normal flow. A ground crew was on hand to assist with evacuees being transported to the relief centre and volunteer members of Life Saving Victoria were on hand in the role of Land Based Swift Water Rescue at the retrieval point. The boat crew was Footscray RB Section Leader Darren Williams, Port Phillip Unit Controller George Katris and Brendan Corcoran.

The river was still rising at this time and was full of debris of all kinds, making the evacuations challenging. Residents, their pets and a handful of belongings were recovered in a painstaking process involving reassuring each resident of their wellbeing, securing each house to prevent looting, fitting every evacuee with a life jacket and instructing them where to sit in the boat and to follow all instructions from the crew. A marker was set early in the deployment which indicated that the river level did not peak until approximately 1300 hours. This was relayed back to the Staging Area.

The evacuations continued well into the afternoon with the successful outcome of all evacuees being lifted with no incident and no injuries to any VICSES members.

Submitted by

Brendan

VICSES Footscray Unit

Corcoran

Photos by Darren Williams Section Leader Rescue Boats, and Faye Bendrups VICSESVA President

Coxswain Brendan Corcoran (left) and Section Leader Rescue Boats Coxswain Darren Williams (right).

CHELSEA UNIT BECOMES A

SANDBAGGING CENTRE

OVERNIGHT, THE CARPARK OUTSIDE OF CHELSEA SES UNIT IN THE SOUTH EASTERN SUBURBS OF MELBOURNE, WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SANDBAGGING CENTRE FOR OTHER SES UNITS.

Truck loads of sand arrived, two sandbagging machines were in place, and a front end loader was warmed up and ready to go.

Over the next 4 days, we had staff from the City of Kingston, DELWP, Parks Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria, working side by side with volunteers from the CFA, and of course VICSES, all working together, and making more than 3,500 sandbags, that were then sent out on trucks to support the work of Units in the Western and Northern suburbs of Melbourne, and even further to Northern Victoria.

A perfect ‘we work as one’ moment.

The assistance from all of these other agencies was fantastic, when the call went out, it was answered immediately. Like so many other units, our volunteers went where they were needed the most, with a number of Chelsea boat crews completing shifts, assisting at the height of the Maribyrnong floods.

At difficult times like this, we remember why we do what we do, and as I’m sure so many others feel, we are more than proud of the role we can play in assisting not only our community, but also neighbouring communities at times of crisis.

Submitted by Phil Wall Chelsea Unit

LA NIÑA PRODUCES RECORD FLOODS IN VICTORIA 2022

The disastrous floods which have washed across Victoria for the past months are not over. Just reading the long list of affected areas gives an immediate picture of the scale of this disaster: hundreds of road closures across the State, thousands of homes and lives disrupted, yet to be calculated costs to infrastructure, the environment, livestock and personal property. There are still months of mess, mould and mosquitos ahead. The Victorian community has shown itself to be resilient and courageous, and the emergency service volunteers have done an outstanding job in unprecedented conditions.

BoM current warnings

14 November 2022

• Minor to Major Flood Warning for the Murray and Edward Rivers,

• Marine Wind Warning Summary for Victoria,

• Cancellation of Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Central Forecast District,

• Cancellation of Severe Weather Warning for East Gippsland, Northern Country, North Central and North East Forecast Districts,

• Warning to Sheep Graziers for North Central, North East, South West, Central and West and South Gippsland forecast districts,

• Flood Watch for parts of Northern and Southern Victoria,

• Flood Warning Summary for Victoria,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Snowy River,

• Initial Minor Flood Warning for the Thomson River,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Latrobe River,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Yarra River,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Werribee River,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Barwon River,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Mt Emu Creek,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Mitta Mitta River,

• Major Flood Warning for the Kiewa River,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Ovens and King Rivers,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Broken River,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Seven and Castle Creeks,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Broken Creek,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Goulburn River,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Campaspe River,

• Minor Flood Warning for the Loddon River,

• Initial Minor Flood Warning for the Avoca River,

• Moderate Flood Warning for the Murray River upstream of Lake Hume.

The BoM stated:

Major flooding is occurring across much of inland New South Wales and northern Victoria as flood waters continue to cause river levels to rise.

Although the heavy rain has cleared, and comparatively dry, settled conditions are expected until at least Friday, flood impacts are ongoing.

Widespread and prolonged disruption is being caused by flood-impacted roads, rail, homes, properties, businesses and agricultural land with road closures, community isolation and evacuation orders in many rural areas. (reproduced with the permission of the Bureau of Meteorology)

Major Flood Warnings (as of 8am AEDT Thurs) are in place for:

• Barwon and Darling Rivers, Macquarie River, Lachlan River, Murrumbidgee River, Murray River, Bogan River, Macintyre River, Namoi River, Narran River, Belubula River, Castlereagh River. Some of the towns impacted by rising floodwaters include:

• Echuca/Moama, Barham, Hay, Warren, Mungindi, Hillston, Cowra, Condobolin, Forbes, Gundagai, Gunnedah, Nanami, Bourke, Brewarrina, Walgett

In Forbes at Iron Bridge, flood levels are forecast to reach major flood levels by midday on Friday and possibly reach up to 10.8 metres, similar to June 1952. Gundagai peaked at 9.8 metres on Wednesday, similar to 1989.

Minor to Moderate flooding is also occurring across many rivers in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.

With inland catchments saturated and many dams at capacity in NSW, waterways will remain sensitive to rainfall with some flooding expected to continue for several months.

Shepparton.

Rochester. Mooroopna. Seymour.

SES FITNESS FOR ROLE PROGRAM TO ROLL OUT NATIONALLY IN 2023

FFR has been supported by the Australian Council of State Emergency Services (ACSES), the Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre (BNHCRC), and the National SES Volunteers Association (NSESVA) who are united in their vision of protecting the safety and wellbeing of SES volunteers and the community across Australia.

Background

In Australia, State Emergency Services (SES) organisations provide emergency support during and after declared disasters. SES is the primary response agency for emergencies, such as storms, tsunamis, flood, earthquake and road crash rescue (and in some jurisdictions, also fire).

Given the physically demanding nature of SES roles, there is a need for suitable occupational health and safety processes to ensure volunteers are appropriately matched to the demands of the roles that they undertake.

The SES Fitness for Role project was first initiated in 2014 by ACSES, with initial research undertaken by Deakin University to understand the physiological effects of operational activities on emergency service workers. In 2018 the scope of the research project was extended and a number of general tasks undertaken by SES volunteers were assessed to determine the aerobic/anaerobic capacity, strength & strength endurance requirements of each task. In-field observations and physiological measurements were conducted for land search and rescue tasks, flood boat operations and swift water rescue. Whilst this study established preliminary information for each of the defined tasks, a key recommendation of the study was that further research and testing be conducted to support the development of a set of

national guidelines. The Fitness for Role Program was established as a result of this recommendation.

Program Objectives

The key objectives of the Fitness for Role Program were as follows:

• To establish a set of consistent national fitness standards for specified SES tasks.

• To ensure these standards are valid, supported by evidence, defensible, practical and easily implemented.

• To support SES agencies in determining whether an individual can safely undertake a task, or role.

• To have transparent, well documented and well communicated processes in support of the Fitness for Role program.

• To foster an inclusive workplace where SES volunteers of all abilities can contribute to service delivery.

A Consistent National Approach

The Fitness for Role Program is sponsored by Australian Council of State Emergency Services (ACSES) as the representative body for all SES Agencies nationally. The program has been managed by a national committee containing representatives of all of the participating SES Agencies and a single set of standards have been defined within a project framework that will be implemented across all States and Territories.

This single consistent approach is considered a critical element of the program in order to ensure that:

• there is consistency in operational fitness standards for equivalent roles between different States/Territories.

• the standards for roles/tasks are applied consistently across States/Territories.

• volunteers can be deployed intra- or inter- Agency during large scale events,

where the receiving Agency is aware of, and understands, the minimum fitness standards of volunteers deploying for all of the requested roles,

• volunteers can easily move from one State or Territory or another without the need for re-assessment and or/retraining.

What does the FFR involve?

As a result of the research undertaken through FFR, a series of nine physical assessment have been developed to represent the physical demands required of the key operational skill sets undertaken by SES members.

FFR will become an integrated component of the training and qualification process which will support members in making an assessment of:

• their ability to train in, and undertake, defined roles within SES Agencies

• their physical fitness to return to active duty following an injury.

National Training Workshop

Representatives from SES Agencies across Australia convened in Melbourne, Victoria on the 8th and 9th October to undertake hands on training in the nine physical assessments and to trial and refine the training materials. The assessments were positively received by all participants and there was great collaboration across the Agencies.

National Implementation

A staged implementation will see a small number of units in each jurisdiction undertake assessments before the end of the year, with full implementation to take place from 1st March 2023. It is anticipated that the full national implementation will take place over a 2-year period.

WI-FI FOR GOOD TAKES OUT INAUGURAL DISASTER CHALLENGE

Dr Kamarah Pooley and Mark Owens are behind the winning concept, which addresses the wicked problem posed for the Disaster Challenge: how can disaster preparation engage with the unengaged, the moving or the hard to reach?

“Our solution to the wicked problem is to use wi-fi captive portals to reach tourists and tourism workers with disaster preparation and prevention information,” explained Kamarah, an early career researcher from Fire and Rescue New South Wales.

The idea focuses on positive and practical information that people can use while on holiday to stay safe from floods, bushfires, cyclones and other natural hazards.

The concept would see a short video play before tourists accessed wi-fi services at their accommodation or eateries. The video would include tips about how to access emergency information and what to do if a disaster struck – all customised to the local area. You can see an example of how this would work at https://youtu.be/ EdsmSPhQ9iM

“Accessing free wi-fi is essential for holiday makers and our approach is another way to reach people who are hard to reach through current communication channels,” said Mark, an early career researcher from the Country Fire Authority in Victoria.

“Wi-fi portals are a way that holiday makers can receive the vital information they need to make informed decisions during a natural hazard.”

The inaugural Disaster Challenge was held on 13 October, the United Nations’ International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction, as part of the Natural Hazards Research Forum. The Challenge invited postgraduate students and early career researchers to present solutions to the wicked problem.

Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing said that the Disaster Challenge highlighted the new research and creative thinking Australia needs to face future disasters.

“Emergency management is full of wicked problems and new thinking is our way forward. We cannot keep doing things the same way and expecting a different result,” Andrew explained.

“The three innovative solutions we saw in the Disaster Challenge drew on the creativity of our best and brightest minds. We saw the benefits of combining new thinking with existing expertise, as well as the next generation – whether that be younger people starting out their careers – or others bringing their experiences into disaster management for the first time.

“There is so much we can learn and it is concepts like these that will make a difference and keep Australians safe.”

Natural Hazards Research Australia will now work with Kamarah and Mark over the next 12 months to explore their concept further.

Runner up in the Disaster Challenge went to Griffith University postgraduate students Jane Toner, Sheridan Keegan, Ahmed Qasim, Lynn Lue-Kopman, Yunjin Wang and Manori Dissanayaka, alongside Cristina Hernandez-Santin from RMIT University. Their pitch was a disasteractivated information hub that harnessed the value of creative place making and art to bring communities together and provide emergency information to tourists, titled Beacons of Hope.

Second runner up was awarded to Jyoti Khatri K C and Mohammed Alqahtani, Queensland University of Technology PhD students, who drew on their personal experience of the 2022 Queensland floods with their proposal to harness community connections with culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase emergency preparedness amongst migrant communities whose knowledge of potential natural hazards in Australia may be low.

The inaugural Disaster Challenge was coordinated by Natural Hazards Research Australia, hosted with support from universities and emergency management organisations in Queensland: Australian Red Cross, CQUniversity, Griffith University, Healthy Land and Water, Inspector-General Emergency Management Queensland, James Cook University, Office of the Queensland Chief Scientist, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland, University of Southern Queensland and University of the Sunshine Coast.

The Disaster Challenge will next take place in 2023. For more information, see www.disasterchallenge.com.au

by Nathan Maddock Natural Hazards Research Australia

Submitted

AN INNOVATIVE IDEA TO USE WI-FI TO PROVIDE TOURISTS WITH LOCALISED DISASTER

INFORMATION WHILE ON HOLIDAY HAS TAKEN OUT THE INAUGURAL NATURAL HAZARDS RESEARCH AUSTRALIA DISASTER CHALLENGE FINAL.

Disaster Challenge winners Dr Kamarah Pooley (middle) and Mark Owens (right) with Natural Hazards Research Australia CEO Andrew Gissing (left). Credit: Natural Hazards Research Australia.

Strengthening VICSES: A ROADMAP TO REFORM

FAIR, SAFE AND INCLUSIVE VICTORIA WHERE

VICSES has engaged VEOHRC to lead an independent consultation with staff and volunteers on ways to improve the culture of the organisation.

VICSES is committed to providing a safe and healthy place to work and volunteer where everyone is treated with dignity and respect and has access to fair and confidential pathways to resolving disputes and complaints.

Recent culture reviews and other data has highlighted issues relating to discrimination, harassment, bullying and victimisation among volunteers and staff. We have been making significant cultural improvements, but we want to do more. As part of our Be Heard work, we have engaged the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission (VEOHRC, the Commission) to lead an independent consultation with staff and volunteers on ways to improve the culture of the organisation, to better prevent and respond to bullying, sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation. The project is known as Strengthening VICSES: A Roadmap to Reform

The Commission has significant expertise as the state regulator of the Equal Opportunity Act, 2010 (EOA). The purpose of the project is to support VICSES consultations with staff and volunteers and devise specific actions, in order to ensure that:

• VICSES is a safe place to work and volunteer where people feel respected, trust others, and are supported to speak up.

• Unlawful and harmful conduct is reduced and responses to harmful behaviours are effective by building organisational capability, holding perpetrators to account, and supporting victims.

• Volunteers and staff are prioritised and cared for.

• A positive culture where safety, respect, and inclusion is everyone’s responsibility and is supported by leaders.

• The Commission will:

• Undertake a desktop assessment of previous culture reviews, surveys, reports, data, and analysis to understand the experience of staff and volunteers.

• Conduct an independent consultation with staff, volunteers, and their advocates on ways to improve prevention and responses to discrimination, sexual harassment, bullying, and victimisation.

• Support VICSES to develop a targeted action plan to set out the steps for reform based on the findings of the consultation. The Commission will then support VICSES to implement aspects of the reform agenda as agreed.

How you can participate

Focus groups:

• The Commission will consult with volunteers and staff through a series of focus groups at units and offices between October and November 2022. The Commission will host eight focus groups for volunteers on training nights at eight different units throughout Victoria, one in each emergency management region. Up to 15 volunteers will participate in a focus group on a voluntary basis, for up to a 90 minute duration.

• The Commission will also host two focus group sessions for VICSES staff – one for a staff group, and one for a management group.

• The focus group discussions will have a particular focus on understanding volunteer and staff ideas on how to make future system and process improvements, and what they would like to see regarding access to reporting of discrimination, bullying, sexual harassment, and victimisation.

• The focus groups will not discuss individual experiences of inappropriate and unlawful behaviour. All focus groups participants will be reminded the sessions are not a place for disclosures.

One-on-one interviews:

• The Commission will also conduct up to 15 one-on-one interviews with key volunteers and staff across the organisation who have a particular insight to the systems for improvement, or volunteers and staff who may not feel comfortable participating in focus group discussions, yet may wish to contribute to the consultation.

• We will be working with the Commission to determine the best composition of interviewees over the coming weeks. Once determined, this will be communicated.

DIGNITY.

Given the previous reviews, information, and data already available, the project is not seeking to understand historical experiences or the prevalence or experiences of bullying, discrimination, and sexual harassment. As such, it is not an appropriate forum to disclose experiences of this in the focus groups.

If your unit would like to host a focus group, please have one of your Unit Management Team members contact Kristy Curtis at kristy.curtis@ses.vic.gov.au , or by phoning 0406 192 903

If you are a staff member wanting to be involved in the employee or manager focus groups, please also email or call Kirsty Curtis via the above contact details.

Safety and wellbeing

We are committed to ensuring participant safety and wellbeing as part of these focus groups and interviews. Volunteers and staff are encouraged to access support services if the consultation raises any issues, or if they have experienced discrimination, bullying, or sexual harassment. You will find information on support services available for participants as part of our Be Heard Hub page.

Members may also contact the Commission’s enquiry line for confidential information about sexual harassment, discrimination, and victimisation on 1300 292 153 or by emailing enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au .

Confidentiality

Participation in the consultation process is not intended to identify or attribute opinions to any focus groups or any person. The Commission will not record the names of focus group participants. Only a small number of Commission staff will have access to the names of individuals taking part in interviews. The Commission has systems in place to keep those names confidential. The final project action plan will not identify individual participants, unless agreed with the participant specifically. The Commission’s privacy policy is available on the VEOHRC website.

The management team at VICSES are looking forward to working with the Commission and our members to strengthen our culture and improve outcomes for both staff and volunteers.

VEOHRC - WHAT WE STAND FOR: OUR VISION IS FOR A

EVERY PERSON IS RESPECTED AND TREATED WITH

ESF IMPACT

Newsletter, Issue 33

ESF Learning Network Continues

In January 2020, the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) received WorkSafe WorkWell funding to Chair a Learning Network for the Victorian Emergency Management Sector. Though this funding has recently ended, ESF will continue to facilitate the Network which connects wellbeing managers from 14 Victorian emergency management agencies to share ideas and knowledge to inform initiatives that promote positive mental health and wellbeing outcomes for the sector. Reflecting on the last few years, we have achieved a great deal by working in collaboration.

The Network’s initial focus has been on leadership and older workers. Leading for Better Mental Health is an innovative development program that has helped to reshape what it means to be a team leader in the sector. This was designed based on extensive research and piloted over the past 18 months. The evaluation is now in and points to the success of the program which ESF is now developing into a fee for service model.

Well Beyond takes a holistic and integrated approach to support older workers transition to retirement by addressing a range of wellbeing issues that often emerge after leaving service due to the loss of camaraderie, identity and purpose and an accumulation of trauma. It has two components: a systems framework to guide organisations to take a leading practice approach across the career to help prepare people to flourish in retirement, and a

Reactions

The Learning Network gives us access to experts and each other in a structured way. We are dealing with different issues but also the same issues and challenges and coming together has been valuable to us in the sector more broadly.

Emma Atkins Life Saving Victoria

peer-based transitions coaching pilot to help individuals plan more effectively.

As well as developing programs and tools, the Network has hosted special events including a two day showcase and webinars to provide access to local and international mental health experts. The Learning Network is provided a monthly digest summarising a quality research article and has access to a curated online portal of eclectic resources for individuals and organisations in the sector.

An evaluation of the Learning Network undertaken by WorkSafe found that we have persevered where other inter-agency groups have not and that the benefits to members go above and beyond tangible outputs

and deliverables. Members enjoy shaping programs and products that benefit them without doing the ‘heavy lifting,’ they enjoy friendships they have built with colleagues from across the sector, and they enjoy confidence in knowing what we do together is grounded in evidence.

Network Chair ESF CEO Siusan MacKenzie said, ‘This is the crux of our success and is why Network has pledged to continue working together. We know that this consortium is sustained by the enthusiasm, commitment, and passion of both ESF and the Learning Network members for driving more consistent and creative approaches to improving mental health and wellbeing across the sector.’

We all bring different perspectives, and our agencies all have different needs. We are a relatively big agency, but I always learn new things through the Learning Network. It is an open space where we are comfortable to say what we think, and to give a contrary perspective.

Sophie Barrett Ambulance Victoria

When I began attending meetings, I was part of many interagency groups, but they have all fallen away. The ESF learning network keeps going and this longevity has been incredibly valuable for building relationships over the long term.

Suzanne Leckie CFA

We are a small agency but when we come together the level acceptance for each other’s experience and the genuine willingness to learn is a real gift. Out of the list of meetings I must attend, the Learning Network meeting is one I really look forward to.

Kellie Shewring VCCEM

ESF IMPACT

Newsletter, Issue 38

Living With Grief No Matter the Loss

Grief is most often used to talk about how people feel when someone dies but grief can also be felt after the loss of something we value or cherish. Divorce or separation, heartbreak, loss of a pet, a change in health status, miscarriage, a work change or moving away from a familiar environment can all trigger a grief response. How we each react to predictable and unpredictable changes in life varies, the process we go through however is driven by similar social, psychological and biological factors.

ESF recently hosted a webinar with Amanda Trotter from Griefline, to help raise awareness of the need for griefinformed workplaces. Amanda spoke of how emergency service workers are at risk of grief linked to exposure to death and suffering associated with their work and how it can often be wrongly diagnosed as a medical condition. Grief is especially likely after a colleague dies at work and because of the tendency to avoid discussing grief the effects can pervade a workplace for a long time. Grief is not something many of us are comfortable to talk about because we have learned the Anglo cultural value of stoicismto ‘not wallow, just move on’.

Reactions

The grief webinar was a very helpful reminder on acknowledging and not medicalising the normal human response to “grief” there was something here for everyone to reflect on about being more self-compassionate, who knows we may even be able to call it “Good Grief!” in the future, thanks ESF for organising this session.

Gina Mammone Ambulance Victoria

Although grief can be tough to talk about, it is important to recognise the impact it will have on a person’s behaviour and ability to function effectively in all spheres of their life. Amanda spoke of how we need grief-informed workplaces that show compassion and empathy. Workplaces need practical strategies to support someone

grieving and encourage people to have courageous conversations with grieving people that do not make comparisons or use platitudes. By being familiar with how to effectively deal with grief and loss we will be prepared to support our people face inevitable loss in the same way as we prepare operationally.

Grief is a uniquely personal human condition that we will all experience in our lifetimes. Despite this shared bond we often feel ill equipped to manage and support those grieving. Thank you to Griefline and ESF for this opportunity to talk about grief and supporting best practices.

Brett Urwin Fire Rescue Victoria

Grief is often talked about but rarely understood and that’s because everybody experiences it in their own way, space and time - it reminds us of what we already know: grief is uniquely owned by those experiencing it but by offering kindness we can support and be supported within our networks at any point in the grief journey.

Graham Dwyer Swinburne University

It was great to draw our attention to grief, given it is something most people have experienced whether firsthand or supporting someone at some point in their life.

The disenfranchised grief certainly resonated with me individually and culturally.

Stacey Robinson ESTA 000

Mount Barker reaches out:

The grant will be used in an expansive campaign to educate and recruit potential volunteers from specific communities across the Great Southern region of WA, including youth, people with disabilities, and the CALD community.

SES volunteers assist police officers in land search and rescue, are the first line of defence in natural hazards including floods and earthquakes, and help communities evacuate and recover from disasters.

Volunteers also learn invaluable skills while with the SES, such as personal management, disaster management and media liaison.

Volunteering with the SES can lead to a career in emergency services and management, or a variety of other government jobs.

The campaign will allow our team to form stronger connections to our young and isolated communities by showing them what the SES can do for them and how they can help us.

With unprecedented weather events causing disasters across the country, it is more important than ever that the SES have volunteers and that the community be aware of the services we provide.

People can volunteer with the SES in a variety of roles which we will show the community through a short documentary film about Mount Barker SES, that will be formally released at our second communitywide quiz night on the 25 of February 2023.

Mt Barker SES Local Manager Kirsten Beidatsch said the video offers a chance to promote the message of volunteering in a lasting format.

“We think video messaging is a fantastic way to capture the attention of the community and share our story with them,” Ms Beidatsch.

“We can show the teamwork, the skills, the fun, the passion the people in the SES feel.

“And we can use this video for years to come to keep sharing our story,” she said.

The campaign also involves social media promotions, and our volunteers will visit the specific communities directly to present about their experiences with volunteering.

Mount Barker SES are pleased to have this opportunity to recruit more volunteers to help us to continue supporting our community and keeping it safe, and we would like to thank Volunteering WA for making it possible.

Submitted by Mt Barker SES, WA

Local Manager Kirsten Beidatcsh.

Mt Barker Search amd Rescue team.

A QUICK GUIDE

Victoria State Emergency Service Volunteers Association

WHAT IS VicSESVA?

VicSESVA works to represent and advocate for VICSES volunteers, actively supporting members and engaging cooperatively with VICSES management, EM sector agencies and governing bodies, and State Government.

• VicSESVA is a non-profit organisation which exists to further the interests of VICSES volunteer members.

• VicSESVA uses its dedicated focus on volunteers to select and drive the resolution of issues that impact on skills, safety and how VICSES volunteers undertake their duties. It is important to note that VicSESVA is an Association not a Union. VicSESVA does not engage in adversarial campaigns but it does seek to further the interests of VICSES volunteers, and the public they serve, by promoting appropriate standards in training, equipment and ethics in VICSES.

WHO IS VicSESVA?

VicSESVA is wholly staffed by VICSES volunteers who provide their time and expertise gratis and is funded by a small fee from VICSES Units, used to subsidise costs such as publishing, website, minimal office admin support and VA delegates travel. VicSESVA is comprised of all VICSES Units (two delegates may represent each Unit), Regional Councils and a State Board.

VicSESVA’s MISSION

To be pro-active in the pursuit of excellence in service delivery for VicSESVA members and to maintain an effective communication and interaction with all emergency and support agencies.

VicSESVA’s VISION

To ensure that the highest level of skills training is available to the volunteers of VICSES. To ensure that the resources available to volunteers are applicable to the respective operational requirements.

VicSESVA’s STRUCTURE

VicSESVA is broken up into 7 Regions: South West, Central West, Central East, North West, North East, Mid-West and East. Each Region has a Regional Council which seeks input from local Units, meets and discusses the issues identified and selects issues for escalation to the VicSESVA State Board.

Unit Delegates

Each member Unit of VicSESVA may elect two delegates who convey the thoughts and feelings of their Unit and its members to the Regional Council or State Board.

Regional Councils

The elected delegates of the Units from within the region form their Regional Council. The Regional Councils raise issues relevant to VICSES volunteers to be presented to the VicSESVA State Board for the formulation of policy on the issues they perceive need to be addressed, and to further advocate an outcome with the VICSES CEO or VICSES Board for action.

Regional Council Positions

Each Council may elect members to undertake the following roles:

• President

• Secretary

VicSESVA Board

• Director

• Alternate Director

The VicSESVA State Board is comprised of Regional Council Directors. Matters raised at Regional Councils are brought to the State Board so that the Board can recognise and monitor any wide ranging issues as they develop. If appropriate, the board will present them to the respective VICSES Management stream for resolution.

VicSESVA Board Positions

• Chairperson

• Vice Chairperson

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Board Member

• Board Member

• Board Member

PHOENIX MAGAZINE

VicSESVA publishes the Phoenix Journal for VICSES volunteers. Phoenix is published four times a year and features articles and photos of interest, submitted by volunteers and staff. To register to receive your electronic copy of Phoenix, go to https://vicsesva.org.au/how-to-subscribe/

WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

As a VICSES volunteer, you are welcome to participate in a VicSESVA Regional Council. Depending on the region, meetings may be held once a quarter at local Unit LHQs. The discussion is very informative and presents a great opportunity to network and share best practices across Units. VicSESVA Board meetings are also open to individual members to attend.

HISTORY

For more information about the history of VicSESVA, go to https://vicsesva.org.au/our-history/

NSESVA

VicSESVA is a founding member of the National SES Volunteers Association (NSESVA). For information on NSESVA and the National Raffle Campaign, go to: https://vicsesva.org.au/faq/ https://www.nsesva.org.au/

TO VicSESVA

VicSESVA Activities, Advocacy and Industry Influence

SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY

VicSESVA has successfully represented volunteers in:

• Negotiating to meet regularly with the Minister for Emergency Services

• Advocating for Unit VESEP bids

• Advocating to EMV to retain the right of volunteers to go to VCAT in matters of dispute (VICSES Regulations Review)

• Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Executive and raising matters of concern to volunteers which have been brought to Board meetings

• Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Operations staff

• Supporting and promoting the annual EMV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey

• Providing grants of funds for individual volunteer welfare or hardship cases

• Supporting members undertaking the VFBV leadership courses

• Providing information and advice to individual members and Units

• Providing a support person to individual members in matters of dispute

• Collaboration with the National SES Volunteers in advocacy for matters such as transferability of skills, harmonisation of training, national recognition, awards

• Implementation of the NSESVA National Raffle Scheme to establish future funding

• Raising the profile and interests of VICSES volunteers at local, state and national forums, including conferences, other EM agencies, interstate agencies, working groups, task forces, expert advisory panels etc.

SECTOR COLLABORATION

VicSESVA has extensive membership of industry forums, regular collaboration with VICSES and influence through its membership of NSESVA, including:

1. EMV Volunteer Consultative Forum, founding member

2. EMV Expert Reference Group, The 3Vs: Volunteer Volunteering Volunteerism – Uncovering the hidden value

3. EMV Expert Working Group, collaboration in developing Strategic Priorities for Volunteering in Emergency Management

4. Emergency Services Foundation (ESF) Chair, Alumni Network

5. Member of Organising Committee, annual ESF Emergency Management Conference

6. Facilitator, ESF Alumni Strategic Directions planning and ‘Valuing Volunteers’ project

7. VESEP panel member (VICSES and EMV)

8. VICSES internal Fleet, RCR, State WH&S, Awards, Uniform working groups 9. VICSES Community Resilience Strategy, volunteer representation 10. AFAC Volunteer Management Technical Working Group 11. AFAC/SES member Project Working Group, ‘SES Fit for Task’ 12. AFAC doctrine development ‘Volunteer Impact Assessment Guideline’ (VMTG) 13. AFAC doctrine development, ‘Volunteer inclusion Model’ (VMTG Diversity Working Group) 14. Member, AIDR Dranszen Forum 15. Member Steering Committee and Working Group, Communities Responding to Disasters: Planning for Spontaneous Volunteers Handbook (Australian Emergency Management Manual Series 2018) 16. BNHCRC member Advisory Group ‘Adapting the Sector’ 17. NSESVA Youth Strategy 18. Volunteer Group Steering Committee, Victorian Government ‘Provisional Payments Pilot (Mental Health Injury)’

EXPERTS AND ADVICE

On request VicSESVA has provided experts as guest speakers, advisors or community representatives. VicSESVA Chair, David Rowlands, is a Life Member of VICSES. VicSESVA Secretary, Dr Faye Bendrups, has been recognised for her work in the EM sector by being named one of the AFR’s ‘100 Women of Influence’ in 2019. This has provided opportunities to promote the work of SES volunteers in major local and national forums, including:

• 2018 Informed Observer, Diversity in Disaster Conference

• 2019 Chair, Akolade 2nd Emergency Management Leaders’ Forum

• 2019 Guest panellist, Public Safety and Hysteria: Leading by example in the first 24 hours of a terrorist event, Akolade 2nd Emergency Management Leaders’ Forum

• 2019 Facilitator, EM conference panel Wellbeing: a Range of Perspectives from People on the Ground

• 2019 Expert Judge, Ch7 News Young Achiever Awards (CFA Volunteer Excellence category)

• 2019 Executive Judge, Victorian Regional Achievement and Community Awards

• 2019 Women in the SES: Reshaping Dynamics, AFAC19 ‘A Shift to the New Norm: Riding the Wave of Change’ international conference presentation, see www.afac.com. au/events/proceedings/29-08-19/article/109.-women-inthe-sesreshaping-dynamics