PRODUCED BY AND FOR THE VICTORIAN SES VOLUNTEERS
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ISSUE 198 MARCH 2020 Printpost Approved PP 100001634
BLACK SUMMER • DRAGON BOAT RACES INSIDE THE WEST GATE TUNNEL PROJECT
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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.
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www.vicsesva.org.au
Contents 3
From the Board
4
Black Summer
10
Manningham Storm Response
12
Inside the West Gate Tunnel Project
15
SES Scout Badge a Winner
16
SES Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Races
Send all articles to:
Email: phoenix@vicsesva.org.au
VicSESVA CONTACTS VicSESVA Phoenix Editor & Mailing List Enquiries To add, edit or delete members to mail list or password and technical support contact: helpdesk@vicsesva.org.au
18
Emergency Services Foundation Scholarships
19
SES Minifigures Now Available
20
Auslan: A Sign of the Times
22 Statement on Commonwealth Payments to Volunteer Firefighters 26
A Quick Guide to VicSESVA
VicSESVA STATE BOARD EXECUTIVE & STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS SECRETARY Faye Bendrups
SHOP MANAGER AND TASK FORCE DELEGATE Mr Chris Patton
M: 0435 964 455 E: secretary@vicsesva.org.au E: fayebendrups@hotmail.com
M: 0407 310 555 E: shop@vicsesva.org.au
DIRECTOR NORTH EAST REGION Mr Chris Brown
CHAIRPERSON AND DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL EAST REGION Mr David Rowlands
M: 0417 550 076 E: nerc@vicsesva.org.au
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M: 0423 777 633 E: chair@vicsesva.org.au
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TREASURER AND PRESIDENT/ ALT DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL EAST REGION Ann Hinsch
DIRECTOR EAST REGION Vacant E: erc@vicsesva.org.au
E: treasurer@vicsesva.org.au
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Letters to the editor If you have a point of view you feel would be of benefit to VicSESVA, 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.
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CONTRIBUTIONS
DIRECTOR CENTRAL WEST REGION Ray Desem
DIRECTOR NORTH WEST REGION In progress
E: cwrc@vicsesva.org.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:
E: nwrc@vicsesva.org.au
DIRECTOR SOUTH WEST REGION John McKenzie
DIRECTOR MID WEST REGION Vacant
E: swrc@vicsesva.org.au
E: mwrc@vicsesva.org.au
VICSES PEER SUPPORT Peer Support can be accessed at any time by ringing 1800 899 927 and asking for SES Peer Support (EAS Paging). The Clinical Director can be contacted on mobile 0417 565 927 or by ringing 1800 899 927 (EAS Paging).
CHAPLAINS CONTACT DETAILS 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
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 Vacant
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 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 State Emergency Service Volunteers Association (VicSESVA) 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 VicSESVA holds for its members is solely used for the production and distribution of Phoenix and associated products.
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020 began with an unprecedented level of emergencies across Australia. Bushfire, flash floods, cyclones, dust storms, cities shrouded for weeks in smoke, air quality in places falling to the worst in the world, and local and international commentary referring to Australia in terms of ‘disastrous climate policies’, ‘megafires’, ‘species devastation’ and ‘apocalypse’. Lives have been lost and properties destroyed and an area 25 times larger than the 2009 Black Saturday fires has been burnt: 10.7 million hectares; the size of South Korea, or Scotland and Wales combined. Deloitte Access Economics suggests a total cost to the community and the economy of $230 billion so far. During this prolonged ‘Black Summer’, SES volunteers have given up work, holidays, family time, recreation interests and regular activities to prioritise their commitment to community. They are working at the frontline in CFA brigades, they are assisting in IMTs, they are putting in weeks in operational and logistics roles, they are travelling from home to relieve local regional crews, or covering for their fellow members who are deployed (see feature
from the
BOARD article in this edition ‘SES Deployments to Assist Fire Campaigns’). The extent of the chaotic natural disasters has given rise to political and social debate. A royal commission will be held, along with State enquiries and internal after action reviews. Some financial compensation is on offer from the Federal Government, and broader questions about volunteering and capacity building will go on for months. In this edition of Phoenix, statements are published from the peak bodies for EM volunteers, the National SES Volunteers Association (NSESVA) and the Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV). What do you think? Have your opinion heard by feeding back through your VicSESVA delegate. Both bodies advocate for people on the ground being heard, and that the contribution of those in the field should inform policies and practices. The Chair of NSESVA, Gordon Hall, for example, calls for politicians to carefully consider “consultation with Volunteer Associations when decisions are being made affecting emergency service Volunteers”. Research in EM consistently shows that hierarchical state structures can
hinder timely emergency response and that decentralised (or shared responsibility) disaster management is beneficial as it allows responders with ‘on the ground’ expertise to collaboratively solve problems with better awareness of the situation than a central command. Since 2000, over 1 million people worldwide have died from natural disasters, with the cost of damage estimated at over $1.7 trillion. Climate mitigation and climate adaptation should immediately form a critical part of national discourse and national action. Everything needs to be on the table up for debate: structural measures, land-use management, building regulations, and enhanced national warning systems (disasters don’t recognise state or territory borders). Governments at all levels should prioritise mitigation and risk reduction on the policy agenda. And among the expert subject matter groups to consult should be the volunteers who are at the frontline doing the operational response work.
VicSESVA Board of Directors
Chairperson chair@vicsesva.org.au
Phoenix Editor phoenix@vicsesva.org.au
North East Regional Council nerc@vicsesva.org.au
Treasurer treasurer@vicsesva.org.au
South West Regional Council swrc@vicsesva.org.au
East Regional Council erc@vicsesva.org.au
Secretary secretary@vicsesva.org.au
Mid-West Regional Council mwrc@vicsesva.org.au
Central East Regional Council cerc@vicsesva.org.au
Volunteer Shop shop@vicsesva.org.au
North West Regional Council nwrc@vicsesva.org.au
Central West Regional Council cwrc@vicsesva.org.au
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REPORTS
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FEATURE
SES Deployments to Assist Fire Campaigns
BLACK SUMMER SES VOLUNTEERS IN KEY ROLES WHILE THE ADF AND OVERSEAS PERSONNEL WERE HAILED AS ‘HEROES’ DURING THE RECENT FIRE CAMPAIGNS, SES VOLUNTEERS WERE QUIETLY WORKING IN KEY FRONTLINE AND SUPPORT ROLES.
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uring major fire campaigns and the unprecedented devastation across huge swathes of the Australian landscape, SES volunteers play an important role in support to fire services, substitute road crash rescue crews, relief crews assisting other SES units, assisting VICPOL with traffic closures, and many have taken on other specialist responsibilities in roles such as Base Camp Manager, Staging Area Manager or in Incident Management Teams. In regional areas, many SES volunteers are also CFA volunteers, fighting at the fire front. VICSES estimates that 124 out of 149 -or 83%- of Victorian SES Units have been actively assisting during recent fire operations, which must surely be a record. For specialist roles, SES volunteers are trained by DELWP as Base Camp Managers. Others are progressing through the AFAC Emergency Management Professionalisation Scheme (EMPS) which accredits them for higher level roles as Operations Officers, Incident Controllers, Public Information Officers, etc.
Swan Reach Base Camp.
Red skies at Swan Reach.
Base Camps DELWP/Forest Fire Management Victoria has several base camp packages ready to go at short notice all year round at their warehouse. They are made up of multiple containers with tents, kitchens and supplies, which can be loaded onto the back of trucks and transported quickly to where they are needed. Setting up and running a Base Camp is a complex logistics task. The camp provides all living requirements for frontline responders for extended periods; including dining marquees, recreation marquees, individual tent accommodation, shower and toilet blocks, laundry, fuel tanks, water and sullage tanks, generators, lighting towers, etc. They are an almost fully self-sufficient mini-city, able to accommodate 350-400 firefighters and other personnel. The kitchen might provide 700 meals at each sitting and the laundry works around the clock. A Base Camp might take up to 3 days to set up and can expand as the fire campaign progresses. Base Camps were set up throughout Eastern Victoria, including at Swan Reach near Lakes Entrance, Tallangatta near Wodonga, Swifts Creek near Omeo, and in tne Snowy River town of Delegate in NSW. March 2020
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FEATURE
Bruthen homes destroyed.
Staging Area Manager Chris Welsh and St John personnel at Tallangatta Base Camp.
Burnt out farm near Nurran.
Tallangatta Base Camp.
‘Hell’ scrawled near Goongerah.
ADF tents at Swifts Creek Base Camp.
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Burnt Cars Monaro Hwy.
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Tallangatta Staging Area and Base Camp Layout Plan: Chris Welsh.
Black skies at two in the afternoon as the fires came close to Swan Reach Base Camp.
Swifts Creek surrounds.
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Tallangatta Base Camp shrouded in thick smoke.
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Swan Reach Staging Area.
PNG troops sign in at Swifts Creek.
Burnt Treeferns, Bonang Road.
Thunderstorm ‘pyrocumulus’ smoke clouds over Swan Reach Base Camp.
Rescued animals at Swifts Creek.
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Blackened trees spring to life, Snowy River National Park.
‘Tie an orange ribbon…’ Stratford locals acknowledge SES.
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MANNINGHAM STORM RESPONSE ON SUNDAY, 19 JANUARY 2020 AROUND 4PM, THE FORECAST STORM BRINGING TORRENTIAL RAIN, LARGE HAIL STONES, HIGH WINDS, THUNDER AND LIGHTNING HIT MANNINGHAM TRAVELLING IN A LINEAR PATH WESTBOUND FROM WARRANDYTE ALONG THE YARRA RIVER TO BULLEEN AND THEN SOUTHBOUND TO MALVERN. WARRANDYTE SUSTAINED MOST OF THE SEVERE DAMAGE IN MANNINGHAM.
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arge hailstones smashed roof tiles, skylights, house windows, cars, knocked over trees and brought down a thick blanket of leaves which blocked road drains resulting in mass flooding. The hail also loaded gutters causing rain water to flow into roof cavities. Heavy rain came in through broken roof tiles and flowed in from blocked gutters resulting in roofs and ceilings collapsing. Minor injuries were reported from ceilings caving in. Wind in some areas was so extreme that one homeowner found his neighbour’s garage roof in his back yard. Over 400 calls for help were received and managed in the Manningham area. Houses were destroyed in minutes. Many families had to leave their homes as they were uninhabitable. Most were able to go to friends and families, however, three vicsesva.org.au
families in the area were handled through Manningham Council’s displaced persons program as their homes were uninhabitable and the residents had no alternative arrangements. Manningham SES crews worked into the early hours of Monday morning actively installing tarpaulins, conducting temporary building repairs, and tree removal. Other SES volunteers from Ballarat, Frankston, Corio, South West Victoria, Melton, Monash, and Pakenham as well as three MFB crews from Pumper 10, 08A, and 08B were called in to assist in the clean-up. Two and a half days later, all jobs had been attended to by the SES effort, although requests for assistance from people returning to damaged homes were expected to continue throughout the week. Manningham SES volunteers gave up their families and day jobs to assist
throughout the response. An important aspect of the incident management was the triage of jobs through the Incident Control Point (ICP) operating out of SES Local Headquarters in the Manningham Depot at the north end of Blackburn Road. Dedicated volunteers followed up on every single call from homeowners to determine how SES crews could help. Four of those in the ICP experienced massive damage to their own homes and others overly extended themselves to ensure Manningham residents were attended to. The best descriptor of this event would be “Smashed”. It was an extraordinary storm that hit quickly and caused extensive damage. Submitted by Will Leggat Controller VICSES Manningham March 2020
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INSIDE THE WEST GATE
TUNNEL PROJECT
5
year construction period
2
Tunnel Boring Machines operating up to 24 hours a day to construct the twin tunnels
1.5
million cubic metres of rock and soil removed for tunnel construction
ON 4 FEBRUARY 2020, THE WESTGATE TUNNEL PROJECT HELD A SITE SAFETY VISIT FOR EMERGENCY SERVICES.
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Inside the hyperbaric chamber.
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ocal Footscray SES Unit members Faye Bendrups and Darren Williams attended and experienced a safety familiarisation tour inside the tunnel construction site. The tunnel project is a major construction site and ensuring safety is a key priority. The site visit included inspection of the tunnel boring machine (TBM) and hyperbaric chambers, as the depth of the tunnelling presents a safety hazard for workers, and there is a 1.5 hour time limit set for their work deep inside the tunnel. The Project maintains ongoing relationships with emergency services and conducts regular safety exercises. Footscray SES has been involved in community and emergency services meetings since the project began, and the site safety tour gave an opportunity to increase awareness of the scale of the work site and the potential risks.
Westgate Tunnel Project is building: • Twin tunnels under Yarraville between the West Gate Freeway and the Maribyrnong River • Entry and exit portals where the tunnels connect with surface roads • Ventilation structures at each tunnel exit to remove air from inside the tunnels • Walking and cycling paths on Hyde Street, Harris Street, Maribyrnong Street and a bridge over Whitehall Street • New landscaped open space in Altona North and Footscray • Freeway Management System to support good traffic flow and safety • Tunnel safety features for smooth operation of the tunnel, including automatic detection for over-height trucks, fire systems and emergency access and exits. The Project has a visitor centre in Somerville Rd, down from the corner of Whitehall St, Yarraville, open to the public, where people can • Explore a fully interactive 3D model of the West Gate Tunnel Project. • Take a virtual reality bike ride along our 2.5km elevated cycling track. http://westgatetunnelproject.vic.gov.au/construction/tunnels vicsesva.org.au
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SES SCOUT BADGE A WINNER SARAH HAMILTON AND SCOUTS WA HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE PRESTIGIOUS NATIONAL RESILIENT AUSTRALIA AWARD 2019 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE STATE EMERGENCY SERVICES SCOUT BADGE. THE SES BADGE INITIATIVE WAS DEVELOPED BY SARAH, WHO IS ASSISTANT SCOUT LEADER AT HAMPTON PARK SCOUT GROUP AND AN SES VOLUNTEER AT THE BELMONT SES UNIT.
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arah was also recognised in 2019 by the National SES Volunteers association (NSESVA) as the WA SES Young Emerging Leader and she was sponsored to attend the National Memorial Service in Canberra and participate in associated meetings and activities. The Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience (AIDR) ‘Resilient Australia Awards’ recognise initiatives that build whole community resilience to disasters and emergencies around Australia. The awards celebrate collaboration and innovation across the EM sector. The SES scout badge’s purpose is to introduce scouting youth members to the SES and raise awareness of the SES and their role in the community. It is hoped that knowledge and understanding of the SES will encourage scouts to be involved later in an emergency service. The Scouts Australia website explains the rationale behind the SES badge: Learning to be prepared for storms can make a huge difference in not only the ability to cope but also in the number of people needing assistance. Understanding what to do if you get lost in the bush could be the difference in the level of danger, injury and time it takes to find you. Gaining basic skills and reinforcing them can bring an elevation in readiness, ability and knowledge when working in and with the community and emergency services, increasing success in the management and response to emergencies. For details of the SES badge requirements at all scout levels, see: https://scouts.com.au/blog/2019/11/22/ scout-ses-badge/ vicsesva.org.au
Sarah Hamilton with the AIDR award.
Image: Scouts Australia, scouts.com.au March 2020
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SES LUNAR NEW YEAR DRAGON BOAT RACES SES BOAT CREWS HAVE HAD A LONG ASSOCIATION WITH THE DRAGON BOAT CLUBS OF VICTORIA, PARTICIPATING AS GROUND SUPPORT, ON-WATER MARSHALLING AND RESCUE STANDBY.
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n February 8 and 9 this year, the Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Races took place at Docklands. Organised by Darren Williams (Footscray Unit), boat crews came from Footscray, Essendon, Whittlesea, Port Philip and Hobson’s Bay. It gave units from outside the inner metropolitan area experience on the downtown waterways and was another example of SES Units working together to achieve successful objectives, showcasing their skills to the public and providing expert safety and standby rescue support. vicsesva.org.au
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EMERGENCY SERVICES FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS https://esf.com.au/services/scholarships/ Make a difference to the emergency services in Victoria The aim of the ESF scholarship program is to provide an opportunity for both paid staff and volunteer members of the Victorian Emergency Services to undertake a study tour that will lead to improvements in Victoria’s emergency management sector. It provides successful applicants with a valuable opportunity for self-enrichment and career advancement through the pursuit of knowledge and experience in an area they are passionate about. ESF scholarships are granted annually to provide recipients with funds to cover the expense of travel to advance their knowledge and expertise. Typically, four scholarships are awarded each year.
Although this may seem limiting at first glance, ESF believes it provides broad scope and exciting possibilities. Research topics that will inform ESF’s work will be well received and we encourage you to speak with ESF if you need help to align your topic with our purpose. Applications for the 2020 ESF Scholarship now close on 16 March 2020 This date has been extended in view of the recent fire situation. All applications will be reviewed in March 2020 by the ESF Scholarship Committee including Craig Shepherd (Chair), Professor David Forbes, Stephen Walls, Greg Gibson and Jacob Riley.
ESF scholarships are granted annually to provide recipients with funds to cover the expense of travel to advance their knowledge and expertise. ESF scholarships are not for completion of tertiary or other qualifications In the past, topics of research have been varied. In line with ESFs new strategic direction, priority will be given in 2020 to applications that address issues of mental health and wellbeing. In particular ESF is working to remove the barriers to good mental health across the sector and through the WorkWell Learning Network is supporting organisations to address the various work-related risks to wellbeing.
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Shortlisted applicants will be invited to discuss their application with the scholarship committee late in April. All applicants will be advised of the status of their application by 31 May. 2020 scholarship awardees will be announced at the Emergency Management Conference in July 2020.
Greg Dean, Senior Sergeant and Acting Manager VicPol Welfare Services. Greg’s topic of study is early intervention mental health and wellbeing respite centres and his research will add to his learnings from previous study in the UK to inform a sector wide feasibility study. Dennis Smith, Senior Station Officer is currently on secondment to CFA from the MFB. Dennis will be travelling to the USA and Canada to research how mindfulness programs have been applied and evaluated in emergency management settings there and in particular how mindfulness could benefit people working in dynamic incident control and IMT environments where important and timely decision need to be made when people are under stress. Tiana Hokins, Emergency Services Operations Coordinator at the Australian Red Cross. Taina’s topic of study aims to better understand the mental health and wellbeing impacts on people undertaking emergency reunification processes. Marcus Warner, SES Deputy Controller at Bright. Marcus’s topic of study is to explore what can be done to minimise the impact on tourists in wilderness areas of witnessing traumatic events where support services are limited. Marcus is concerned about the ad hoc approach to dealing with such people.
2019 ESF Scholarship Awardees In 2019 ESF had four awardees. Their research topics each address the important issue of wellbeing.
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SES MINIFIGURES NOW AVAILABLE How about these cute SES minifigures? They can even be personalised. Designed to work perfectly with building sets and parts from the world’s best known brands they sell for $20 each with $5 from the sale going to the Emergency Services Foundation. Order your personalised minifigures at: https://www.thebigbrick.com/en/102-ses-victoria
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AUSLAN: A SIGN OF THE TIMES WE COMMUNICATE EVERY DAY IN A VARIETY OF DIFFERENT WAYS, IN THE SES WE COMMUNICATE WITH AN EVEN WIDER RANGE OF PEOPLE IN A RANGE OF SITUATIONS INCLUDING ON POSSIBLY THE WORST DAYS OF THEIR LIVES. WE TRAIN TO REMAIN CALM AND SHOW RESPECT AND CONFIDENCE IN DEALING WITH THESE SITUATIONS. THE CHALLENGE IS COMMUNICATING WITH ALL MANY SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY.
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e tailor communications in training, accommodate for literacy needs to make the most of members; we develop community education programs and school programs for a wide range of scenarios. But most of these are tailored for those who can hear without limitation or with assistance. What do we do for those in the community that have limited hearing? At Gisborne we are no different; we experience and encounter the full spectrum of situations from the damaged property after a storm or flood, to road crashes. We encounter not only the residents and locals, but the tourists and visitors to the Macedon Ranges, an area with a range of country retreats, bed and breakfasts and bushwalking or other recreational activities that attract visitors from all walks of life. Other attractions include the markets, fairs and events that happen every year, from local music festivals and garden shows.
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As the SES, when training, how many units use a projector to deliver a training session, and how many turn the lights off in the training room to enable the screen to be more visible? How many trainers turn their back to the audience when they are speaking or refer to the screen? I am guessing most and we are no different. But, if someone is lip reading from the presenter; while reading the key points version from the screen, there will be limitations on how much they can absorb. The nuances may be lost, key points or experiences may be missed. Another example: the colour contrast on the presentation is also a challenge such as light text colours on a light background, and vice versa. This will also place additional strain visually on the reader. When all you have are visual mediums that can make things challenging. We train, as part of the road crash rescue course, to tell the causality when we are going to make some noise, to remain still and calm, and the best example, when we are breaking glass. But when
we are breaking glass, we have a mask on or the casualty has something over them for protection, if the casualty has difficulty hearing and is trying to lip read for example, that communication is not going to be effective as the audio and visual mediums are eliminated or obscured. This is understandably not very comforting for the casualty in that situation. They will experience all of those movements without any knowledge of what is happening and when, which will increase stress in an already stressful situation. At the Gisborne Unit, we have taken this challenge on and undertaken four weeks of Australian Sign Language (Auslan) and Deaf awareness training. During these four weeks, we learnt how to engage and communicate with someone who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing. These sessions, coordinated by Shanleigh (Gisborne’s Public Relations and Fundraising Officer) and developed in conjunction with Auslan in the West, commenced with an awareness session about the range of hearing limitations and communication methods, mediums and how different people might need to be approached. After tackling the basics of the alphabet, and some common gestures, greetings and introductions, the sessions developed into more specific messages tailored to how our interactions might occur and how we might adapt in different scenarios. It was a humbling experience in what we take for granted and highlighted the challenges of communicating with different types of limitations. A great example, to introduce myself I would say, or write, ‘my name is’ whereas to sign would be ‘my name’ followed by my name; or ‘how can I help you’ would be signed ‘how I help you’ with simple gestures towards the person needing assistance. Why; because our ordinary language is filled with pleasantries. The gestures, the movements and the facial expression are all parts of these messages and may sometimes appear direct or even blunt, but with good reason. Imagine trying to sign all the daily pleasantries; it would be very difficult and tiring. As with all language, there vicsesva.org.au
are also subtle differences in how things are communicated, different signs mean different things in different cultures, there are several dialects, and most importantly, not everything has a sign dedicated to it. The SES, or spreaders and shears for example wouldn’t have a dedicated sign; but an Ambulance, the Police and Fire and truck all do. The initial session outlined the range of hearing loss that might be encountered, the differences between people who have had hearing loss at birth and those that have developed hearing loss. The session also informed that not all people with hearing loss can read lips or sign, that there are a range of different languages and that the technologies used to assist with accessibility to services and the challenges they bring. The session, held at Gisborne LHQ, facilitated by Briana and interpreted by Brooke, was well received and the members were very engaged with the topic. By the second session I was blow away by the interest and engagement. There was no need to have an interpreter as the whole group could genuinely follow Briana’s messages, and where they couldn’t; could ask questions to help clarify; began conversing directly with Briana; making suggestions about how we could improve our service, labelling equipment or having flash cards, even asking questions on technique. The level of engagement for most training is fairly high but this was unprecedented. There was complete silence for more than a couple of minutes while the group was completely engaged in learning new messages and signs for everyday objects or actions and gestures. I managed to get on video the entire group focused in silence on replicating Briana’s instructions which vicsesva.org.au
contains nothing but background noise and the occasional vehicle traveling past the unit. The remaining sessions focused on some of the specifics like how to tell someone to remain calm, ask where they are hurt, tell them what we are going to do to their car, their home, to help them in their time of need. In conjunction with this we are looking at resources that we can use to incorporate into the vehicles, kits or for people to carry with their personal kit similar to our Field Operations Guide to help refresh members in the field along with the Auslan alphabet, so we can spell anything that we don’t have a sign for. The final session showed just how interested the unit was as a whole, with the simplicity of an attendance log being individually signed back to Darren by each participant. The learning tools included
Guess Who, the game. This is one of the best ways to learn the techniques for describing a person. Auslan, or any sign language for that matter, is not a direct translation; it is interpretation. Interpreting the hand signals, the gestures, the movements, the facial expressions as a combination to determine the message that someone else is trying to convey. These sessions have given us the ability to better service the community and enhance our understanding of the community’s needs. It was also because of the community that these sessions were possible after a generous donation from Brigid from Bolobek after the Unit’s involvement in the 2019 Garden Lovers Fair. Submitted by Ross Evans VICSES Gisborne March 2020
PHOENIX 21
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STATEMENT ON COMMONWEALTH PAYMENTS TO VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEERS NEED TARGETED AID AND NOT JUST HANDOUTS
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ur CFA volunteers are among the best firefighters in the world. Every day they put their communities first, from highly complex bushfires to specialist response and structural firefighting in highly urbanised areas. They are well trained, well exercised and are sought after across the country for their knowledge and experience. They are true professionals in every sense of the word, only as volunteers they do it without pay. As their peak representative body, my organisation welcomes and appreciates the Federal Government’s intention to provide financial support for volunteer firefighters. But we are worried that this initiative is misplaced and may have unintended and lasting consequences. There are far better ways to support volunteers, reimburse expenses and support their employers and their communities. What we want is for the federal minister David Littleproud, state minister Lisa Neville and our CFA volunteer representatives to work together to ensure state and federal government support and assistance can be tailored and targeted to best support our incredible volunteer firefighters in Victoria. Volunteers are proud to be volunteers; that is the ethos they live by every day. They work, train and deploy out of love for their communities. Their bravery and selflessness lie at the very heart of the enormous respect for and trust in them. Volunteers, their families, employers and friends all pitch in to support emergency management volunteers, financially and in kind. We work as a team with like-minded volunteers before, during and after disaster strikes. The volunteer ethos defends millions of Australians, protecting lives and property from the ravages of fire and other emergencies, year after year. And if we look after it well, it will continue to do so long after this fire season is over. Therefore, it is vital we support and protect it in a way that does not undermine the very system and thinking on which we rely.
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Long after announcements of new schemes, it is those on the ground who then have to make it work. Saddling brigades and volunteers with additional administrative bureaucracy while they sort out who should and shouldn’t receive payment is an unwelcome distraction. Instead, it is time we recognise and respect the incredible contribution that all emergency volunteers make to our communities. The most common complaint I hear is about the unfairness of CFA volunteers having to pay for a fire services levy that funds the very service they are providing to the state for free. Adding insult
the unsung heroes during these massive campaigns. Many employers continue to cover wages for many of their staff deployed as volunteers, not just for fire but in relief and recovery. The establishment of federal emergency service leave that would allow employers to claim for additional entitlements for their employees to take leave during declared emergencies would inject much needed support to grow and sustain Australia’s proud and enduring volunteer movement. Our message is simple. We are not saying no to additional financial support. We are grateful for it. But please give CFA
“The volunteer ethos defends millions of Australians, protecting lives and property from the ravages of fire and other emergencies, year after year.” to injury is the expectation they then must fundraise for essential trucks and equipment to make up the difference between what the government funds and what they actually need to keep us all safe. Long-term investment in more fire trucks, equipment, personal protective equipment and clothing is needed desperately. And from a Commonwealth perspective, how about recognising emergency management volunteers as a special occupation that would allow any personal expenses incurred during the year to be tax deductible just as employees can claim them now. In Victoria alone, the CFA volunteer contribution is valued at more than $1 billion dollars a year. Why not recognise part of that contribution as a tax-deductible donation? And let’s not forget the employers and business sector who are often among
volunteers the courtesy and respect of involving them in the decision and working with us to deliver a more appropriate package that respects and protects our members and the precious volunteer ethos that Victoria relies upon. Adam Barnett Chief Executive Officer Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV)
vicsesva.org.au
VOLUNTEER COMPENSATION SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO SES MEMBERS
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he recently announced Federal Government scheme to compensate volunteer firefighters in some states should be extended nationally and should include volunteer members of the State Emergency Service (SES). “The National SES Volunteers Association (NSESVA), representing more than 30,000 SES Volunteers across Australia, believe that SES Volunteers should be reimbursed where they lose income, or for out of pocket expenses, in extended response to emergency events, whether it be for fire support, flood, storm, tsunami or earthquake” said NSESVA Chair Gordon Hall. This fire season SES volunteers have been working for extended periods around the country supporting firefighting operations, taking members away from work, family and other commitments. Like Fire volunteers, SES members in the workforce forgo income to serve and protect the community. When this happens for extended periods, it becomes a burden on them, their families and employers. Mr Hall continued “There needs to be equity for all emergency response personnel, including the SES Volunteers across the country”. vicsesva.org.au
While the current scheme is a good start, the NSESVA recommends the following general criteria: • Members would be eligible for compensation after 5 days of service in the past 12 months. • The current compensation limit of $300 per day is reasonable but needs to keep pace with inflation. • The current limit of 20 days compensation is less than what some members are contributing. • Members working for any organisation should be eligible, not just those in small business. Mr Hall added “Whilst SES volunteers generally do not want payment for their services, they also believe that being a volunteer should not be a financial burden to themselves or their families.” There are rigorous processes to screen new SES Volunteers with obligations for members to attend training and operations which protects against abuse of this scheme. The NSESVA believes there should be no payment to volunteers for their service in volunteering to their community, however reimbursement for lost income and out of
pocket expenses, within a set criterion is to be supported. “The NSESVA is severely disappointed about this scheme being formulated without wider consultation and we call upon the Federal Government to urgently meet with the emergency responder peak volunteer bodies, to discuss and provide their knowledge and experience as input to the Federal Government scheme.” said Mr Hall. “The new normal of extended, environment-related incidents around the country requires more volunteers over longer periods of time. A uniform national scheme is necessary to compensate Fire and SES Volunteers for loss of income is fair when the community is relying on volunteer efforts, particularly for survival. The alternative of more fill-time or paid standby emergency personnel would be significantly more.” Mr Hall concluded. Gordon Hall ESM Chair NSESVA
March 2020
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NATIONAL REVIEW OF BUSHFIRES
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FBV notes the Prime Minister’s announcement that the Federal Government is considering a proposal for a national review or enquiry into this year’s bushfires. VFBV would cautiously welcome a federal enquiry and believes there are learnings and observations that could be best explored at a national level. Just as fires don’t respect lines on a map a national perspective and overview to bushfire preparation, planning, response and recovery could be invaluable. We reject the view that duplication cannot be adequately managed or planned for, and believe the Federal Government has an important role to play. Australia’s 250,000 emergency management volunteer workforce is a national treasure, and VFBV would welcome discussions on how they can be best supported, equipped and protected. Any enquiry must be carefully planned and thought out to ensure terms of reference are adequately balanced to ensure any review is targeted and focussed for best effect and effort. Having witnessed the cooperative approach taken by the Victorian and Commonwealth Government during the current campaign fires, we are optimistic that a federal review or enquiry could equally be progressed in good faith. VFBV is strongly advocating that emergency management volunteers should equally have input into the terms of reference. There are many factors volunteers would be keen to explore including volunteer support, safety, culture, resourcing and recognition. Building stronger integrated relationships and effort and removing artificial barriers are important factors to consider. Volunteers would also make valuable contributions and provide a unique perspective on land management and planning, fuel reduction, and emergency warning education and standardisation amongst others. A national approach to some of these issues would provide a valuable blueprint for State based agencies and governments of the future. As with enquiries in the past, VFBV would fully cooperate with any enquiry
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or review called. As history has shown, volunteers have always actively engaged in these types of discussions in a highly constructive way. VFBV would support a review of previous enquiries as part of a national review and believes this could form part of terms of reference. VFBV respectfully submits that the lack of independent, evidence based, and authoritative assessment of the progress and status of previous reviews and enquires would be a significant improvement to assist the emergency service sector in realising the benefits and continuous improvement sought by previous enquiries. A national
An enduring and national coordinated approach and oversight of the work done to build, strengthen and sustain emergency management volunteers would be most welcome and is a fitting way to recognise and respect the incredible work volunteers undertake in our communities 365 days of the year. For now, our focus and energy is on supporting our incredible volunteers and the immediate demands of the current fire season. There will be time to pursue calm and focussed reflections and learnings at the end of the season. We urge decision makers at both the Commonwealth and State levels
“Australia’s 250,000 emergency management volunteer workforce is a national treasure, and VFBV would welcome discussions on how they can be best supported, equipped and protected.” approach would enable all State’s to benefit from the valuable lessons learned across the nation. VFBV shares the frustration of many volunteers who have participated in a plethora of reviews, often with perceptions of little ultimate improvement to the support of volunteers and their communities with local service planning, preparation, delivery and recovery. Volunteers support active questioning about whether things can be done better, how to plan and prepare for the future and a need to address problems that need to be fixed. Many of these problems require long term planning and investment. A holistic approach is urgently needed and presents one of the greatest opportunities to leverage off the strengths of each jurisdiction, while diligently pursuing improvements that resonate and have real world practical effect ‘on the ground’ and in our communities.
to respect the current operational workload and community relief and recovery works that are currently underway, and provide sufficient time for stakeholders to have input and offer advice on future reviews before terms of reference are settled. Adam Barnett Chief Executive Officer Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV)
vicsesva.org.au
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR EMERGENCY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEERING AUSTRALIA POSITION PAPER Summary Volunteering Australia and the State and Territory volunteering peak bodies believe that future Australian Government emergency management policy must preserve the spirit of volunteering whilst also ensuring that volunteers do not suffer financial hardship because of their contribution to the community. This will require future emergency management policy to be well planned, cognisant of the varying contexts of volunteerism and have been developed through thorough consultation. The recent 2019-20 summer of bushfires has focused the attention of the nation on the critical roles that volunteers play during emergencies and the significant volunteer workforce that is at the forefront of the response to such a national crisis. Initiatives by the Australian Government to support the critical work of volunteers and the volunteer workforce are encouraged. Volunteers comprise a national workforce which is critical to saving lives and community wellbeing. However, the context of volunteerism varies significantly in different organisations and across States and Territories. A key concern of Volunteering Australia is that future national volunteer policy response does not undermine the culture and the ethos of volunteering by introducing financial considerations that could be considered a wage or salary. At the same time volunteers should not be financially impacted because of their contribution to our communities. Rather than setting a precedent and expectation of financial compensation for volunteers in future emergencies,
vicsesva.org.au
Volunteering Australia recommends that the Australian Government and all State and Territory Governments use the lessons learned from the recent national crisis to improve policy settings relating to volunteers and support volunteer emergency service workforce planning. This paper provides the view of the volunteering sector and incorporates feedback from targeted consultation with emergency Volunteer Involving Organisations, on how best to support emergency service volunteerism. This Position Paper provides Guiding Principles and Recommendations to support the Australian Government, State and Territory Governments and other key policy and decision makers to achieve the best outcome for emergency service volunteers, Volunteer Involving Organisations and our communities. We suggest that future policy development related to these issues by the Australian Government and where relevant, State and Territory Governments, are guided by the following principles: • Guiding Principle 1: Maintain a clear conceptual understanding of volunteering as “time willingly given for the common good and without financial gain.” • Guiding Principle 2: Reimburse and cover out of pocket expenses of volunteers • Guiding Principle 3: Protect the health and safety of volunteers • Guiding Principle 4: Recognise the contribution of volunteers • Guiding Principle 5: Consult widely with the experts, including volunteers
We recommend that the Australian Government and, where relevant, State and Territory Governments: • Recommendation 1: Clarify the Australian Government’s volunteer compensation position for future emergencies • Recommendation 2: Develop an emergency management workforce strategy. • Recommendation 3: Lead a recruitment drive for emergency volunteers • Recommendation 4: Ensure there are comprehensive mental health support services for emergency volunteers • Recommendation 5: Invest in the enabling infrastructure of the volunteering sector • Recommendation 6: Actively promote emergency volunteerism and corporate social responsibility (volunteer leave policies) to the private sector. • Recommendation 7: Develop and communicate a policy on Commonwealth welfare support compliance obligations for volunteers during disasters See the full paper at: https://www. volunteeringaustralia.org/wp-content/ uploads/February-2020-Position-StatementAustralian-Government-CompensationScheme.pdf
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VicSESVA
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
• Director • Alternate Director
VicSESVA Board 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 • Board Member • Vice Chairperson • Board Member • Secretary • Board Member • Treasurer
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/
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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
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:
• 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.
• 2018 Informed Observer, Diversity in Disaster Conference
SECTOR COLLABORATION
• 2019 Chair, Akolade 2nd Emergency Management Leaders’ Forum
VicSESVA has extensive membership of industry forums, regular collaboration with VICSES and influence through its membership of NSESVA, including:
• 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
1. EMV Volunteer Consultative Forum, founding member
• 2019 Facilitator, EM conference panel Wellbeing: a Range of Perspectives from People on the Ground
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
• 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
7. VESEP panel member (VICSES and EMV)
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SESVA VIC
Calling for old copies of Phoenix Journal The association is currently in the process of digitising the entire collection of Phoenix. Issues from now till 2005 are available for members to download from the assocation website. We are in the process of digitising the remaining copies from 2004 to 1987. We are missing a small number to complete the collection, please see the issue numbers below. Issues 48 & 49 (1993) | 55, 56 & 57 (1994) | 74 (1997) | 82 (1999) The assocation will arrange pickup and return postage. Members who are interested in supplying any missing issues please contact media@vicsesva.org.au
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