PRODUCED BY AND FOR THE VICTORIAN SES VOLUNTEERS
ISSUE 207 MARCH 2022 Printpost Approved PP 100001634
INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY UPDATE GLEN EIRA STORM EVENT • TONY’S TREK
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O VICT RIA
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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
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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
Contents 3
From the Board
14
VICSES Volunteers Recognised in Australia Day Awards
5
Hobsons Bay Secures Grant to Purchase New Equipment
6
Glen Eira Storm Event
16
Inclusion and Diversity Update
8
Severe Thunderstorms and Heavy Rain
18
Recognition of Prior Learning
10
VICSES Ballarat Unit Awards
21
Who’s Who and What Do They Do?
12
New SES Donation Helmet
22
ESF Impact
13
Tony’s Trek
24
A Quick Guide to VicSESVA
VicSESVA STATE BOARD EXECUTIVE & STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR Mr David Rowlands
PRESIDENT Dr Faye Bendrups
M: 0423 777 633 E: chair@vicsesva.org.au
M: 0435 964 455 E: fayebendrups@hotmail.com
SECRETARY AND DIRECTOR SOUTH WEST REGION John McKenzie
TREASURER Sue Davidson E: treasurer@vicsesva.org.au
E: secretary@vicsesva.org.au
DIRECTOR NORTH EAST REGION Mr Chris Brown
DIRECTOR EAST REGION Mr Ray Desem
M: 0417 550 076 E: nerc@vicsesva.org.au
E: erc@vicsesva.org.au
SHOP MANAGER AND TASK FORCE DELEGATE Mr Chris Patton
DIRECTOR NORTH WEST REGION Julie Jochs
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E: nwrc@vicsesva.org.au
M: 0407 310 555 E: shop@vicsesva.org.au
DIRECTOR CENTRAL WEST REGION In progress
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E: mwrc@vicsesva.org.au
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E: cwrc@vicsesva.org.au
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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:
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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).
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
CHAPLAINS CONTACT DETAILS CENTRAL REGION Major Arthur Ford M: 0416 085 634
EAST REGION Rev Judy McLeod M: 0417 347 821
NORTH WEST REGION Rev David Mills M: 0425 708 730
Major Eddy Holman M: 0412 014 557
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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his edition is the first for 2022, and at the time of print we are thankful that for the second year in a row we have experienced a more benign summer that 2019-2020, with limited large scale fire events. Nevertheless, it has been an extremely active period; the last 18 months have been the busiest in living memory for SES. Many members will have felt the additional stresses of being separated from loved ones and of having to radically change our working and domestic lives during the past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. And after a world record 100 weeks (704 days) of Australia’s borders being closed, we may finally be on the way to new ‘normal’ ways of meeting, training, responding and engaging with friends and family. We start the year with optimism. There is of course no certainty and we will be prepared for any unexpected changes in months and years to come. For VicSESVA, it has been rewarding to collaborate with VICSES on the culture and behaviour reform process. It has been inspiring to work with members who have had the courage to raise their issues with VICSES and contribute positively to making
from the
BOARD “It is vital that every member feels safe and supported at VICSES. We encourage you to report unlawful behaviour or raise concerns. Your report will be taken seriously.” – VICSES CEO Stephen Griffin
the service more inclusive and equitable. CEO Stephen Griffin reminds us all that “It is vital that every member feels safe and supported at VICSES. We encourage you to report unlawful behaviour or raise concerns. Your report will be taken seriously”. Another inspiration comes from the Inspector General for Emergency Management and Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation, Tony Pearce, who will be setting out later this year on a solo walk covering 1,440 kilometres to promote mental health care in Victoria’s emergency management community – one step at a time (see this edition ‘Tony’s Trek’).
More articles in this edition feature SES volunteers who have been recognised for their service; from local Unit awards to award recipients in the Australia Day Honours list. There are stories of storm response, inclusion and diversity, a how-to guide for making the popular SES donation helmet, and the success of Hobsons Bay Unit in securing grant funding auspiced by VIcSESVA. Do you have something to say? Articles are always welcome and can be submitted any time to phoenix@vicsesva.org.au. The Board of VicSESVA
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
vicsesva.org.au
March 2022
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REPORTS
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Pool Inspections & Pool Fence Inspections. We are a Fully Qualified Pool and Spa Barrier Inspection Service registered with the VBA currently doing COVID safe inspections in your area. We come to your property and check that your pool and spa fences are compliant to the relevant standards. Servicing all of Victoria - Country visits subject to numbers
Monday - Friday: 8am - 8pm Including Saturday - Sunday: Extra charges may apply
Mob: 0477 440 097 www.rulesforpools.com.au
“Thank you to our Craigieburn and Broadmeadows SES Volunteers for helping keep us safe this summer. We appreciate your service.”
A: Town Hall Broadmeadows Precinct, Level 2, Office 1, 14 Dimboola Road Broadmeadows VIC 3047 T: 03 9367 5216 E: maria.vamvakinou.mp@aph.gov.au MariaVamvakinou Authorised by M. Vamvakinou, Australian Labor Party, Level 2, Office 1, 14 Dimboola Road, Broadmeadows VIC 3047
THANK YOU
g to protect us. to the volunteers and staff workin — Adam, Lidia, Janet & the Greens
ADAM BANDT
LIDIA THORPE
JANET RICE
MP for Melbourne
Senator for Victoria
Senator for Victoria
www.beyondblue.org.au 1300 22 4636
Authorised by J McColl, Australian Greens, Canberra ACT 2600.
Proudly Supporting The Local SES Volunteers
HOBSONS BAY SECURES GRANT TO PURCHASE NEW EQUIPMENT THE HOBSONS BAY SES UNIT WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A HUGE SHOUTOUT AND SAY A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO THE VICTORIA STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE VOLUNTEERS’ ASSOCIATION (VICSESVA) FOR THEIR PROMPT SUPPORT AND WILLINGNESS TO ACT AS AN AUSPICE FOR OUR UNIT FOR THE STRONGER COMMUNITIES PROGRAM – ROUND 6.
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he Stronger Communities program is a grant opportunity run twice a year by the Commonwealth Government, to strengthen communities in each of the 151 Commonwealth electorates. One of the items grant money can be spent on is “purchasing equipment for the local SES”. Unfortunately, as VICSES units are not incorporated, the unit was not eligible to apply for this grant, and all hope seemed lost, as the grant rules specifically required an incorporated association to act as an auspice. It was suggested the unit reach out to VICSESVA as an eligible, incorporated entity to enquire if they could assist. With the fantastic support of VICSESVA and their Secretary, Hobsons Bay Unit was successful in receiving a grant for $10,000 for essential equipment purchases! This funding has allowed the unit to purchase equipment such as pole saw boxes and OHS ladder racks for our support vehicles, our first Domestic Rescue Kit, plastic cribbing sets, and much more! We are incredibly grateful for VICSESVA’s support, and look forward to not only working with them to secure future grant opportunities, but also assisting other units with securing access to available funding options! Grant opportunities are routinely and regularly advertised online. GrantConnect (grants.gov.au) lists current grant opportunities available from the Commonwealth Government, and GrantGuru (grantguru.com.au) provides a database of available grant opportunities across different levels of government, and from private industries, and allows for email alerts to be set up when new opportunities become available. We would strongly encourage any unit that would be interested in applying for one of these grant opportunities to reach out to VICSESVA via secretary@vicsesva.org.au — particularly for the next round of the Stronger Communities grants! Submitted by Jaymes Olandi Deputy Controller Hobsons Bay Unit vicsesva.org.au
March 2022
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GLEN EIRA STORM EVENT 28 January 2022
ON 28 JANUARY 2022, THE STORM THAT HIT MELBOURNE EVENTUATED IN GLEN EIRA UNIT RECEIVING 124 REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OVER 28 TO 29 JANUARY 2022.
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Remote Incident Control Point was established at 1450 Hrs on 28 January and continued to operate till close of business on 29 January 2022 to tackle the steady influx of RFAs that continued through 2 days. Despite an aggressive state-wide campaign discouraging people from driving through flood waters, there were 4 RFAs to rescue people from vehicles stuck in flood water. Needless to say, a herculean effort is still required to further deter this behaviour within our communities. Apart from the courage and resilience displayed by SES volunteers and residents of Glen Eira Municipality, the multiagency operation supported by Victoria Police, FRV, AV, ESTA and helping hand extended by neighbouring units makes this effort ever so special. Glen Eira unit was assisted by volunteers from Whitehorse, Chelsea and Moorabbin Unit. The joint effort was an exceptional display of true professionalism, advanced rescue skill sets, love and respect that every SES member brings to the table in time of need.
By Saurabh Sawant VICSES Glen Eira
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Request Type
Total
Building Damage
57
Flooding
55
Rescue Persons Trapped (all in flood water)
4
Tree down
8
Total
124
A few pictures submitted by volunteers display the damage left behind by the storm.
vicsesva.org.au
A note of approval from a happy resident of Glen Eir a.
A special mention and heartfelt thanks for the members from Chelsea Unit that promptly deployed the special purpose Pump Unit trailer to assist with drainage for an underground car park located along Glen Huntly Road.
vicsesva.org.au
March 2022
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SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAIN 2100hrs Wednesday 26th to 1100hrs Saturday 29th January 2022
Situation Severe thunderstorms were forecast for much of the state from Wednesday, January 26, throughout the rest of the week and into the weekend, due to an unstable, humid air mass, and a low-pressure trough slowly moving across the state. Late Wednesday evening had the Mildura area impacted by severe thunderstorms, with the wettest January day for the region recorded. In the early hours of Thursday morning, the BoM advised of very dangerous thunderstorms impacting parts of the state. These thunderstorms brought destructive winds and intense rainfall that resulted in flash flooding. Further storms developed around the state on Thursday afternoon/evening with the south west of the state receiving another round of severe thunderstorms heavily impacting the Geelong and Bellarine Peninsula areas. Friday saw severe thunderstorms continue to impact parts of the south west and central region as predicted by the BoM, with the slowmoving trough continuing towards the north and east of the state on Friday evening into Saturday.
Source: Channel 9 News Facebook.
Requests for assistance 2100hrs 26th January to 0930hrs 29th January
Requests for assistance
2,118
Requests for assistance
701 Flood 678 Building damage 250 Tree down
112
Active Units
Source: VICSES IMS & CAD.
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67 Rescue events 16 Assist other agencies
Overall Activity by Region Central Region A Regional Operations Control Centre (ROCC) was established early on Thursday morning with an Incident Control Centre (ICC) established on Friday in preparedness for the forecasted weather that impacted the Central part of the state. 814 Requests for Assistance received across Melbourne from Thursday 27 – Saturday 29. Minor Flood Warnings issued for Werribee River, Yarra River, Dandenong Creek and Bunyip River as a result of the rainfall. A Watch and Act for Elster Creek Elwood was issued on Friday due to the rising flood water which subsided in the early evening. In Southern Metro the busiest units were Glen Eira Unit 115, Narre Warren Unit with 60 and Greater Dandenong Unit with 52. 12 Flood Rescues in Southern Metro all successful. 14 properties with slight above floor flooding – 4 in Elwood at Elwood Canal, 7 others across Glen Eira local government area, 3 in Greater Dandenong local government area – none requiring relocation. vicsesva.org.au
Horsham SES.
Chelsea SES.
Glen Eira SES.
Elster Creek, Elwood.
Horsham SES.
Torquay SES.
In Eastern Metro the busiest unit was Monash Unit with 105. 4 flood rescues in Eastern Metro all successful. 6 properties with slight above floor flooding in Monash local government area none requiring relocation. One vehicle impacted by a fallen tree in Wheelers Hill with the occupant ok. North West Metro Whittlesea 18 and Wyndham Unit 14 with further scattered RFAs across the area. Mid West Region Storm activity throughout the Grampians Region from the morning of Thursday saw high rainfall activity with an earlier front through Edenhope and later Horsham. This was not a concern for the communities or area. A severe thunderstorm developed over Buninyong and Sebastopol around 1330hrs on Friday that caused flash flooding and storm damage as it moved through the east of the Region, impacting areas including Ballan and Bacchus Marsh. The storm was relatively quick, with heavy rainfall that caused local inundation and building damage in these areas but also moved out of the region in the early evening. Incident Control Points (ICPs) were established at Ballarat and Bacchus Marsh with a core Incident Management Team on standby for Ballarat, though but was not required. Support was received from local CFA crews throughout the region also. South West Region 448 RFAs were recorded in the South West region with the majority of calls to units for building damage and flash flooding throughout Thursday evening. vicsesva.org.au
in the evacuation of attendees, thankfully there were nil injuries reported. On Friday, another front crossed the region which had impacts in the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet areas, with an aged care facility in Anglesea impacted, requiring residents to be relocated to other facilities.
The VICSES ROCC was operational with EMLOs from VicPol, CFA and AV present and communication with the City of Greater Geelong MEMO. The CFA District 7 DCC was stood up in support of operations during this period. ICPs were operational at South Barwon, Geelong, Corio and Bellarine units. CFA brigades assisted in assessing and treating 68 RFAs across Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula. The Greater Geelong area was heavily impacted at 2100hrs with close to 300 RFAs up to 0200 hrs. The Belmont Ten Pin Bowling Centre had the roof collapse near the entry resulting
North West Region Late on Wednesday 26th of January, a storm front heavily impacted the Mildura and Sunraysia area seeing intense rain which lead to flash flooding impacting the area. The Mildura and Sunraysia area received up to 110mm of rain locally, with the Mildura unit receiving 131 RFAs and Swan Hill with 30 RFAs. Throughout Thursday and Friday, further impacts were observed within the North West region, impacting Castlemaine, Gisborne, and Woodend units. Command structures were put in place with an ICP at Castlemaine and DIVCOM established at Gisborne to assist within the wider Woodend and Gisborne areas. State Readiness The State Control Centre (SCC) was activated in the early hours of Thursday morning and remained at Tier 2 for Friday and Saturday morning in support of the forecast weather. The SCC activation level decreased to Tier 1 at 0915hrs Saturday. The State Duty Officer and State Agency Commander were active in the SES Command Cell during this period. The State Operational Communications Commander (SOCC) was also active at ESTA Williams Landing. March 2022
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VICSES BALLARAT UNIT AWARDS ON FEBRUARY 15 2022, CONTROLLER OF BALLARAT UNIT GORDON HICKS PRESENTED THREE MEMBERS WITH AWARDS: BEN LYNCH RECEIVED THE CONTROLLERS CHOICE AWARD 2021, AND ROBYN READ AND MEGAN TALAN BOTH RECEIVED THE UNIT’S ENCOURAGEMENT AWARD 2021.
Megan Talan
Encouragement Award 2021 Megan became a member in June 2019 and quickly became a valuable asset to the Ballarat Unit. In her time with the Unit she has been very active operationally, both here in Ballarat and on deployments. Megan is notably reliable and knowledgeable, with a “get in and have a go” attitude. On February 15, 2022 Megan received an Encouragement Award from the Ballarat Controller, Mr Gordon Hicks. Megan is well respected by our members and it is hoped by the Unit’s Management Team that Megan will continue to expand her knowledge and skill base to someday take on a leadership role. From all of us at the Ballarat Unit, Congratulations Megan.
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Gordon Hicks presenting Megan Talan with her Encouragement Award 2021. vicsesva.org.au
Robyn Read
Encouragement Award 2021 Robyn joined the Ballarat Unit in September 2019 along with her son Ben Lynch. After finishing the fundamental and general rescue training, Robyn took on admin duties and also joined the IMT (Incident Management Team). Robyn is a very respected and liked member of the unit. All members are familiar with her warm greetings at our meeting/training nights or any other time when we see her at the LHQ. She is dedicated and committed to supporting our community and the unit members. Robyn is also always there when the unit engages in the community. On February 15, 2022, Robyn received an Encouragement Award from the Unit Controller, Mr Gordon Hicks. Robyn was selected for the award based on her never-quit attitude and her willingness to get in and have a go, even when surrounded by chaos. In response to the award, Robyn said “I really enjoy being an SES volunteer”. We are very lucky that Robyn is part of our team. On behalf of everyone in the Ballarat Unit, congratulations Robyn.
Robyn Read with her Encouragement Award 2021.
Ben Lynch
Controllers Choice Award 2021 Ben has been one of the most active members in the Ballarat Unit this year. He not only took on a leadership role operationally as a Crew Leader but also administratively as a Training Officer. Ben has devoted a large portion of his life to SES this year. Notably having participated in most of the deployments that Ballarat Unit sent crews on over the past two years. Ben has been very active as a Crew Leader having stepped up to fill in the role whenever called upon and has risen to these occasions with his usual friendly manner and broad knowledge. Ben has shown great devotion to not only the roles he has taken on, but also to the members of the Unit. His devotion has also been present in the areas of new recruit induction and training. Ben is often one of the first to arrive at the Unit and generally one of the last persons to leave (often as I threaten to lock him in!). On behalf of the Deputy Controllers and myself – Controller Ballarat Unit, I congratulate Ben on an awesome effort this year and announce that he is a worthy recipient of the Controllers Choice Award. By Gordon Hicks Controller VICSES Ballarat Gordon Hicks presenting the Controller’s Choice Award 2021 to Ben Lynch. vicsesva.org.au
Photos by Neil Paramanathan March 2022
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NEW SES DONATION HELMET
OUR UNIT RECENTLY DEVELOPED A STANDARD BUILD PROCESS FOR A NEW VICSES DONATION HELMET MADE FROM HELMETS DUE TO BE DECOMMISSIONED (DESTROYED).
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ith the old plastic helmets not in circulation anymore plus also looking a bit dated, this is a cheap and easy project to raise funds. The new design is made from off the shelf components that can be purchased from any hardware store and can be assembled by anyone with access to some general workshop equipment. We plan to add a QR code so people can donate both
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cash and cashless with zero maintenance required. The unit is looking at the VICSES endorsed platform GiveNow which many units are already using, reach out to your VSO for more information on that. For those interested in building your own donation helmet, the association is hosting the build instructions on their website for members to download, please visit vicsesva.org.au
to download your copy. For those units who would prefer to purchase a pre-built unit, if enough interest is received we can arrange to build a bulk lot for a fee. For more information please contact John from the Hamilton Unit via email: john.mckenzie@ members.ses.vic.gov.au By John McKenzie Volunteer, Hamilton Unit vicsesva.org.au
TONY’S TREK:
One step at a time for mental health
A SOLO WALK COVERING 1440 KILOMETRES WILL PROMOTE MENTAL HEALTH CARE IN VICTORIA’S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY – ONE STEP AT A TIME.
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n 30 September 2022, Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation and Inspector-General for Emergency Management Tony Pearce will start Tony’s Trek – a 1,440km charity walk to support pioneering initiatives for mental health to help people across Victoria’s emergency management community. Tony’s Trek will travel through many of areas affected by Victoria’s 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires acknowledging the mental health impacts that those fires had – and continue to have – on emergency personnel and community members alike. Tony’s Trek aims to raise awareness and support for building collaborative sectorwide mental health led by the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF).
“A study by Beyond Blue has revealed this sector’s first responders and emergency service workers are more likely than others in the community to suffer serious and debilitating mental illness because of the trauma they often face while working.” Chair of the Emergency Services Foundation, Tony Pearce.
Victoria’s emergency management sector includes more than 125,000 paid and volunteer members in frontline and support roles devoted to helping Victorian communities before, during and after emergencies like fire, flood, storm, and pandemic. A study by Beyond Blue has revealed this sector’s first responders and emergency service workers are more likely than others in the community to suffer serious and debilitating mental illness because of the trauma they often face while working. This is reflected in escalating mental injury claims. “We are seeing larger and longer duration emergencies affecting our vicsesva.org.au
communities, and it is increasingly evident that members of our emergency services community – who give so much to Victorians before during and after these emergencies – are at increasing risk of suffering a mental injury due to the type of work that they do to keep us safe”, says Tony Pearce. Despite considerable investment in mental health treatment programs and services, there is still much work required to help prevent mental injury. CEO Siusan MacKenzie says, “ESF seeks to get ahead of the mental harm and injury threat that currently pervades the sector – that’s why our focus is on prevention and early intervention.
“We must make sure we have the best possible strategies to help prevent people from our sector being harmed by the work they must do to keep our community safe”, says Siusan. Funds raised from Tony’s Trek will be used to enable ESF to deliver two pioneering – prevention-focused mental health initiatives – a Lived Experience Program and Pilot Residential Wellbeing Program. ESF is the only organisation that is entirely dedicated to the prevention of mental health injury for Victoria’s emergency workers. It works with the support of 14 member agencies. To find out more, donate or get involved go to www.esf.com.au March 2022
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VICSES VOLUNTEERS RECOGNISED IN AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS CONGRATULATIONS TO VICSES VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE RECEIVED RECOGNITION IN THE 2022 AUSTRALIA DAY AWARDS, HONOURING THEIR EXCEPTIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND SERVICE.
Anthony White ESM Anthony White is not only a dedicated volunteer, but a leader for his own unit and other units in Central Victoria. Over 12 years Anthony’s work at VICSES and meant that VICSES Sunbury Unit volunteers are ready to respond to emergencies any time of the day or night. His tireless efforts supporting his community and providing extensive out-of-area coverage has meant so much to the many Victorians, to whom he has provided timely assistance. In the many emergency events where Anthony has played an important leadership role, he has exemplified leadership, direction, emotional guidance and support to his colleagues, as he provided operational support to Sunbury and the wider community. Anthony’s commitment to his unit, and to VICSES, has earned him the respect of his peers. His sacrifice and dedication of time has been above and beyond our expectations of him. Anthony has been the key leader and driver in transforming VICSES Sunbury Unit from having a small volunteer membership, to the thriving community-based organisation it is today. The unit has relationships with other emergency services and local community groups and has increased its operational vehicle fleet. This has ensured VICSES Sunbury Unit is a robust emergency service, capable of providing round-the-clock emergency response. It is because of Anthony’s persistence and dedication, VICSES Sunbury is the outstanding unit it is today.
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March 2022
Raelene Billingsley ESM Raelene Billingsley has been an exceptional volunteer leader in Gippsland and as the leader of VICSES Morwell Unit. Raelene has been instrumental in our response to large-scale emergencies in the Gippsland region, including flood events, from 1993 to 2016. Raelene is a natural leader and has set a high standard across the volunteer leadership roles in which she has performed. Over 25 years this has included Deputy Controller, Officer of Probationary Members; Trainer and Assessor; Road Rescue Competition Team Leader; and, she is presently heading up the VICSES Morwell Unit as Unit Controller. Raelene is highly regarded by her peers and VICSES management for her knowledge and her skills, particularly in rescue techniques. Apart from being an exceptional team leader, Raelene is a compassionate mentor to her peers, and new recruits under her command. We commend her willingness to train both new and existing members at a regional and state level. Raelene’s passion and advocacy for her unit was key to VICSES’ work with Local Government and other stakeholders, to bringing about a new facility in the heart of Traralgon. This new facility and prime location has enhanced response times to critical incidents, as well as greatly improving the profile of emergency service volunteers; resulting in a growth in volunteer membership. Raelene’s skills, knowledge, management style and passion and dedication to serve her community both as a responder and a mentor to others marks her out as a beacon to others within VICSES. vicsesva.org.au
Ron Fitch ESM Ron Fitch has been named in the 2022 Australia Day Honours List, becoming the recipient of the Emergency Services Medal, from the Governor-General of Australia for distinguished service as a member of an emergency service. Ron Fitch has been a serving operational member of the Chelsea SES Unit since 1992, and has served as Unit Controller for 26 of those 30 years. In 2017, Ron was made a Life Member of the Victoria State Emergency Service, the highest honour that can be bestowed on any SES Volunteer. He has also received the National Medal from the Federal Government, and was named as one of the Victorian Premiers Volunteer Champions in 2018. Also in 2018, Ron was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the City of Kingston in their Australia Day awards. Over Ron’s years at Chelsea, he has been involved in almost every deployment request throughout Victoria and Interstate. Ron was deployed a number of times to assist with logistics following the Black Saturday bushfire tragedy, as well as major storm and flood events throughout the State. He spent many weeks in Mildura acting as Divisional Commander following major flooding in the area. He has also spent time in both NSW and SA after being deployed to assist with a number of major storm events in those States. After more than 15 years of lobbying and hard work, this year Chelsea SES will be moving into their new Unit Headquarters, thanks to in excess of seven million dollars funding from the State Government. Ron has been the driving force for this project, and it is a fantastic result for the Unit, its members and of course the local community. As always, Ron continues to lead the Chelsea Unit onto bigger and better times with the new LHQ development yet another path to navigate and conquer. Everyone at Chelsea SES is proud that Ron’s years of dedicated service to our community has been recognised through this honour, and that it is both deserved and in some ways overdue, in recognising the sweat, time, energy, commitment, passion and sometimes heartache, that Ron Fitch has given to both the Chelsea members and the community that they serve so proudly. Congratulations Ron Fitch, ESM.
Dr Faye Bendrups Medal of the Order of Australia, OAM Faye Bendrups is the President of VicSESVA, Vice Chair of NSESVA and Chair of the ESF Alumni Network. She is a former Controller and currently a Deputy Controller of VICSES Footscray. During 16 years volunteering for VICSES Faye Bendrups has contributed to more than 25 strategic working groups, including her work for the AFAC Volunteer Management Technical Group and the EMV Volunteer Consultative Forum. She has been engaged as an expert speaker at various forums and conferences and has been published in major sector publications. Operationally, she has been deployed seven times as a Base Camp Manager to major fire events and four times as a Staging Area Manager. She is committed to better mental health strategies and making the service more equitable. Dr Bendrups completed a comprehensive report on tsunami and earthquake response after a 6-week secondment to and participation in whole-of-nation evacuation drills and response management exercises at the National Institute for Civil Defence in Lima, Peru. She was then invited to the high altitude region of Macchu Picchu National Park to work with local communities and park rangers on remote area firefighting techniques and community development. In 2016 Faye Bendrups was recognised for her volunteer leadership as the first SES recipient of the Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Champions Leadership Award and in 2019 she was named as one of the Australian Financial Review’s ‘100 Women of Influence’. In 2020 she was the Victorian winner and national finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards (For Purpose and Social Enterprise category) for her contribution to establishing the National SES Volunteers Association. In 2022 she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the Australia Day honours for her professional work in the Arts Industry.
Submitted by Phil Wall, Chelsea Unit
vicsesva.org.au
March 2022
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INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY UPDATE WOMEN IN RESCUE WOMEN IN RESCUE (WIR) EVENTS WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE STATE ON SATURDAY 19 MARCH.
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ounded by VICSES Sunbury Unit, WIR is a training event that is designed to provide women the opportunity to get their hands on equipment, build on rescue skills; and to have fun, in a safe and supportive environment. In 2022, VICSES is expanding WIR to be more accessible to all of our members across the state and will be held the week after International Women’s Day (8 March). The objectives of WIR are: • To build confidence in women in all roles associated with rescue. • To increase familiarity with rescue tools through more ‘hands on’ tools time. • To provide a positive, welcoming, and challenging learning environment. • To expand the leadership capacity and networking opportunities of women in our emergency services. • To celebrate women in the rescue space. WIR avoids a “one-size-fits-all” approach to training, by including members with varying strengths and capabilities. The upcoming WIR events are a great opportunity, for experienced as well as new members, to come together and share knowledge. WIR also provides an opportunity to network with fellow VICSES members from your region. The initiative first came about as VICSES Sunbury Unit recognised a gap in our knowledge and capacity. The tools and training, created and devised to work well for male volunteers, are not always suited to the needs of our female members. Event details: Date: Saturday 19 March, 2022. Time: Registration for the event on the day will be 8:15am, with a 8:45am start. Snapform link: https://ses.snapforms.com.au/form/ women-in-rescue-event---19-march-2022
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March 2022
Women in Rescue 2021.
State
Eildon – LBSWR Skills Maintenance
Central West
Sunbury VICSES Unit
Central East
Venue to be confirmed
East
Sale Unit
North East
Wangaratta LHQ & Wangaratta Training Ground
North West
Huntly Training Ground
Mid West
Stawell VICSES Unit
South West
Camperdown VICSES Unit
vicsesva.org.au
VICSES AT PRIDE MARCH ON SUNDAY 6TH FEBRUARY, VICSES WAS EXCITED TO BE BACK AT MIDSUMMA PRIDE MARCH FOR 2022.
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ICSES is a long-time supporter and participant of the Pride March, as an event that reflects the diversity within both the communities we serve, and of the service itself. We are committed at VICSES that we work without fear, favour or prejudice. Pride March is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate this commitment and to our people. For VICSES Moe Unit volunteer Jason Clough, this year was his first as part of a cohort of around 35 members. “I’ve been a member of the VICSES Moe Unit since late 2019. I’ve been to one Pride March with the Red Cross, but never before with VICSES. When there are opportunities like Pride March, it’s great to make new connections, whether that’s in the pride space or our emergency services in general,” says Jason. Inspired by our participation in Pride March, Jason is now planning a regional pride event. “I’ve made a connection with the Emergency Management Pride Network,” says Jason, “to help put on a pride event for our local emergency services in Moe. I’ve also made connections with Latrobe City Council, and to partner with local events in Gippsland as well.” Deputy Chief Officer David Baker attended this year as an ally, to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LBGTI) community at VICSES. “I became an ally when I was senior leader in CFA, and have been attending pride marches since 2010,” says David. I became involved because I recognised that senior leaders have to come forward and make it crystal
Midsumma Pride, 2022.
clear that, under our leadership, their organisation is a safe place.” “Stephen Griffin and I have made it clear that at VICSES that you can be yourself,” continues David. “CFA has always been strong on senior officer attendance at Pride, but one thing I noticed at VICSES – out of all emergency services at Pride – we have the highest per capita representation of members.” “Our members turn up en masse, which reinforces to me that they trust the leadership and, if the public sees how supportive we are, they will want to be part of that.”
David Baker.
BE HEARD
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ICSES is an organisation filled with great people from all around the state who work together, more than ever, to support our communities. Recent insights and reports, including an independent review into sexual harassment and discrimination within VICSES, suggest we have issues to address so that all of our members can
vicsesva.org.au
be safe, and supported, as they continue to provide this vital service. A reminder that should you want additional support or advice to manage an issue at your unit/regional/office level, please email grievances@ses.vic.gov.au. This email will go directly to the VICSES People and Organisational Development (POD) team.
If you just looking for some confidential advice, from someone who doesn’t work for VICSES, you can call 0434 617 594 (Converge International) to discuss the relevant complaint process, understand the options available and receive support for any matter relating to bullying, harassment and discrimination. Submitted by VICSES Media
March 2022
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RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL): IMPROVING RETENTION
RPL ALLOWS ORGANISATIONS TO HAVE THE COMPETENCE OF THEIR WORKERS RECOGNISED, THEREBY STRENGTHENING THE ORGANISATION’S ABILITY TO OPERATE IN THEIR FIELD OF ACTIVITY AND TO REDUCE ORGANISATIONAL RISK AND REDUCE DUPLICATION OF TRAINING.
VicSESVA Editor
Many members over time have expressed frustration at not having their pre-existing qualifications recognised (RPL). Examples range from the professional arborist required to undertake the SES chainasaw course to the former Navy officer whose engineering skills go unrecognised and the seemingly perennial requirement that the SES First Aid course must be completed even if you are a practising nurse, paramedic or Emergency Department Registrar. The process itself appears to be unwieldy and drawn out, so many volunteers give up and do the course rather than persevere with the RPL process. There is a comprehensive guide to the process developed by AFAC for the whole of the sector, see https://www.afac.com.au/docs/default-source/ doctrine/afac_guidetorecognitionofpriorlearningforfireandemergency servicesorganisations_guideline_2021-10-28_v1-0.pdf
In this guide, AFAC discusses the purpose of RPL: “(RPL) allows organisations to have the competence of their workers recognised, thereby strengthening the organisation’s ability to operate in their field of activity and to reduce organisational risk and reduce duplication of training. In a fire and emergency services’ context, the broader community and all levels of government also benefit from RPL by having a workforce that is demonstrably fit-for-purpose and organisations that, by virtue of having a competent workforce, can operate effectively and safely”. (AFAC Guide to Recognition of Prior Learning, p4). The following article from a practising volunteer illustrates the frustrations experienced by volunteers seeking RPL. It is one case study that suggests the process may not be working how it should, and that if there are unreasonable hoops for volunteers to jump through, then skills and qualifications will be lost to the service and people who put their hand up to help their local community will feel excluded and ignored, and leave. Across the emergency sector, the implications for retention are similar. There is no problem getting people in the door, the challenge is to keep them. If there are unreasonable or inconsistent bureaucratic hurdles, then the constant ‘churn’ of new members – and the associated financial costs and loss of capability –will signify a weakened service. Read the case study opposite, submitted in good faith and with an objective of constant improvement (*name withheld by the editor), and let us know if you have similar stories, email VicSESVA on secretary@vicsesva.org.au or phoenix@vicsesva.org.au
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March 2022
Shut the Back Gate
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t seems that many SES units are continually struggling to recruit new members. However, once recruited there is an even bigger issue of concern: how to keep them. The solution to this problem may seem complex but it could be simpler than you think. The service does not seem to have any strategic plan in place of how to solve retention issues and a high degree of turnover of new members. In fact it seems they sometimes actively contribute to making the problem worse by effectively pushing new members away. Let me explain. Units are made up of community-minded volunteers who come from a wide variety of backgrounds. Sometimes they possess next to zero rescue experience or life skills and need to start by learning the basics until they become a proficient member. On the other hand, others may come with a wealth of previous experience and extensive transportable skills therefore they will obviously need little or no training and are able to contribute to unit capabilities from day one. Every organisation ought to welcome such new members particularly those with previous experience, as there is no substitute for experience, it just cannot be learnt from a 30-minute slide show presentation. Such members are worth their weight in gold and should be encouraged to share their knowledge. Sounds simple enough, but unfortunately this is something that does not appear to be practised in the VicSES. For some reason they seem to have an attitude of stifling such members. Regardless of their previous qualifications and experience they will have to start at ground zero and follow the entire program from scratch in a prolonged agonising process of sucking eggs. So, what is the actual problem? vicsesva.org.au
Let me illustrate by offering a hypothetical scenario, try imagining that you are in this situation… Dr John has spent the last 30 years learning his craft as a gifted trauma surgeon. He is now regarded as one of the best surgeons in the country but has decided to retire in a quiet country town that has just one small regional hospital. John has a willingness to give to back to his community and after responding to a local ad looking for volunteers, he answers the call and presents his extensive CV to the hospital HR department. He is immediately welcomed aboard and was keenly excited about attending his first shift in the ED. Time after time several trauma patients were delivered by ambulance paramedics on a very busy night while the staff were struggling to cope and desperately needed the extra pair of hands to assist. However, there was a problem. Although John was more than capable of treating the patients and despite the serious lack of staff, John was prohibited from any medical duties. Why you ask? Hospital protocols did not allow volunteers to practise until they have qualified in the basic first aid course. What? Further, it cannot be just ANY first aid course, oh no, it must only be the in-house course run by the hospital. He had to grovel to get his name on the waiting list and the next course is not due until 6 months, but John is unlikely to get nominated as he is only new, and others have been waiting longer. In the meantime, he is restricted to mopping floors and doing stocktake duties counting the bandages and only with supervision. This routine was repeated every night for more than a year. John finally got his first aid course after 7 months but was then grounded until he had done a CPR course. He resigned due to sheer frustration. What a total waste of talent. Now, I can hear some of you thinking this example is unrealistic and it would never be allowed to happen. Quite right, but a similar situation is continually happening within the VicSES. It has probably happened at some time, or is happening now, in most units. The scenario may be different, but the concept and principle is exactly the same. I can only cite my own case as an actual example to put things into perspective. My background includes Army special forces followed by 25 years professional Fire and Rescue Station Officer specialising in Heavy RCR rescue and High Angle rescue. Then I worked about five years in a specialist rescue trainer role delivering training all over the world, then finally for the last 10 years as a Mines Rescue Supervisor and trained as a paramedic. All my qualifications are up to date and current. vicsesva.org.au
Therefore, you would think with some 40 years full time ER experience there may be a few skills there that I could bring to the table as a newbie SES Volunteer. My ultimate intention was to assist the unit and hopefully show them some skills to enhance their rescue capability and assist with their training requirements. However, after 12 months, not one single qualification has been recognised to date. After spending the entire year learning how to suck eggs on CM supervised, CM1 and CM2 courses I can honestly say I have not learnt a single thing yet. I had 3 assessments to pitch a ladder and tie basic knots that a boy scout could do blindfolded. I felt like I was Just jumping through hoops to follow the SES process; it is a frustrating and soul-destroying experience.
“Although the unit says they are desperately short of qualified members, and my previous qualifications have been recognised on my training portal, in practise it is a different story.” Although the unit says they are desperately short of qualified members, and my previous qualifications have been recognised on my training portal, in practise it is a different story. I am prevented from practising anything related to my qualifications in RCR, 4WD, SWAH and EV Driver, Heavy Vehicle Driver, Land Search, USAR and AIMS until I repeat the SES version, despite that I hold National formal qualifications for all of them. For some unknown reason this logic did not apply to my First Aid and CPR qualifications: those they recognised without question. National Accredited training qualifications are transportable between different states and agencies are meant to consider Recognised Prior Learning (RPL) and Current Competencies with transportable skills. It seems it works in every agency in the country except you guessed it. Why does the SES seem adamant that national rules don’t apply to them, when they are an RTO that ought to be following the rules? Therefore,
just as Dr John got frustrated with his situation and left in disgust, others like me – trying to make a difference in the SES – are experiencing the same level of brick wall frustration brought about by excessive bureaucracy and a dogmatic attitude that everyone must endure the same pathway. Such members simply reach the end of their tolerance and walk out the back gate, never to be seen again. A great pity and a sad loss. There simply is no mechanism for common sense or tailored pathways. Until there is a major shift in management attitude SES units will sadly continue to lose more of the best talent as they are just not being recognised for their full potential. Eventually their patience wears thin, it becomes untenable and they lose interest at being jerked around. After all, although being volunteers we all have better things to be doing, rather than just wasting time in a seemingly endless game of suck eggs. Further, the argument is continually raised about cost of training members and getting bang for their buck, therefore does it not make perfect sense to recognise previous training as it costs the SES zero if they are already trained and skills can be utilised straight away without delays of waiting long periods for courses to come up? This dogmatic attitudee is not just restricted to recognition of existing qualifications. On several occasions I have offered constructive advice and recommendations on how to improve issues that could have improved rescue capability and efficiency. Again, the resistance to change even the tiniest detail was met with stiff opposition and the standard replies like “we have always done it this way” or “we not allowed to change anything”. If we always take that stance we would still be responding on bicycle or horse drawn carriage. Obviously, it is an advantage to the service to strive for continual improvement with methodology and advances in equipment, to resist such progress or preference for outdated methods and equipment does not serve the communities’ interests. I gave up trying as I was obviously flogging a dead horse. The unit Controllers pass the buck and say that their hands are tied, and they need to follow procedures from State and Regional training departments. Are they really that blind that they cannot see what damage they are doing to recruitment levels? Membership numbers will remain strong if you can only shut that back gate and retain the members they already have, then numbers will increase. Is it too much to ask to expect change in the service, a bridge too far perhaps? Maybe, but I believe it all starts with a shift in attitudes from the top down; eventually members would benefit if this became reality. March 2022
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LATEST AFAC LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT GUIDES FOR THE FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES AFAC continues to work with industry to support the development and delivery of learning and assessment materials for the fire and emergency Services, and with implementation of the Public Safety Training Package. Four AFAC Guides have been developed and a fifth AFAC Guide to Recognition of Prior Learning is due to be released in August 2021. This latest Guide provides information about recognition of prior learning (RPL) for AFAC member organisations. It is designed for those who have responsibility for the management of RPL processes in AFAC member enterprise Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), as well as those who conduct and audit RPL assessments. AFAC member organisations are enterprise RTOs that operate under the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 and as such, are responsible for the delivery and assessment of vocational education and training (VET) to the fire and emergency services’ workforce. This latest Guide to Recognition of Prior Learning provides an overview of the regulatory framework and RPL process. It highlights four approaches being taken by fire and emergency service enterprise RTOs in applying RPL processes. The four case studies included in this Guide show RPL in action and are provided to add to the conversations within and among enterprise RTOs as they continue to respond to and support the VET needs of AFAC member organisations and their workforce. The Guide builds on this and explores different ways that RPL can be implemented and provides templates that can be used. This Guide has been developed with the support and assistance of the AFAC Learning and Development Group and informed by 28 respondents from over 20 organisations that participated in 20 interviews conducted by the authors with practitioners and interested parties from: • • • •
fire and emergency service organisations Surf Life Saving Defence Australian Federal Police.
The other four AFAC Guides include:
1. The AFAC Frequently Asked Questions to help RTO managers, trainers and assessors who are required to provide advice on the fire qualifications contained within the PUA Public Safety Training Package.
2. The AFAC Learning Strategies Guide to help with the development and delivery of learning materials for the fire and emergency services, and with implementation of the Public Safety Training Package.
3. The Assessment Strategies Guide to assist people who are designing, developing and conducting assessments in the fire sector.
4. This Guide to Nationally Endorsed Training is developed to provide an overview of the nationally endorsed training systems and components suited to trainers, assessors, training designers and developers and training managers.
In addition, the authors conducted an extensive literature review of Australian and international RPL policy, procedures and practitioner documentation.
AFAC.COM.AU
WHO’S WHO AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
RECOVERING FROM DISASTERS AND EMERGENCIES VCOSS IS EXCITED TO LAUNCH A NEW HANDBOOK THAT EXPLAINS WHO’S WHO IN DISASTER RECOVERY.
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ho’s who and what do they do? Recovering from disasters and emergencies is a user-friendly guide that identifies key disaster recovery stakeholders and outlines their roles and responsibilities. There are also useful tools, links and resources to help organisations navigate their recovery journey by exploring collaborative opportunities and contributing to local processes. The handbook was developed in close consultation with the community sector about who they work with during disaster recovery and lessons they have learned from past events. Emergency management stakeholders were also interviewed to find out what role they play after emergencies and how local organisations can engage with them. The guide was generously funded by the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation and forms part of VCOSS’s Bushfire Recovery Project. VCOSS will update the guide on a regular basis. vcoss.org.au/sector-hub/bushfirerecovery/
Communities and individuals are better able to recover from natural disasters, such as bushfires, if the local community is strong, connected and wellsupported. This is achieved by dedicated programs to strengthen local capacity and capability, placing a greater emphasis on community engagement, and ensuring a better understanding of the diversity, needs, strengths and vulnerabilities within communities With support from the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, the VCOSS Bushfire Recovery Project is engaging community organisations and individuals in those areas of Victoria affected by the 2019-20 bushfires, to:
vicsesva.org.au
•
Build the capacity of community and social sector organisations to support their communities’ resilience and recovery • Advocate for the recovery needs of community organisations and vulnerable people impacted by bushfires • Contribute to effective current and future emergency and disaster recovery planning. The project is being rolled out in the six streams listed below. Stream 1. Community organisations in recovery Stream 2. Building the capacity of community organisations in recovery We are providing emergency and disaster recovery advice and information for community organisations through an ongoing series of Disaster Recovery Conversations. Each session is focused on a different cohort of people. Stream 3. What community organisations say about their role We are gathering a range of recovery initiatives that highlight the central role of community organisations as champions of place-based community led bushfire recover. • Case Study 1: Gippsland Disability Advocacy • Case Study 2: North East Multicultural Association • Case Study 3: Bairnsdale Neighbourhood House • Case Study 4: The Sanctuary • Case Study 5: Creative Recovery • Case Study 6: The Buchan Rodeo
https://www.vcoss.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2022/02/VCOSS-Bushfireguide_P3.pdf • • •
Case Study 7: Yinnar Hall Case Study 8: CATS Case Study 9: Gender and Disaster Australia
Stream 4. Evaluating community organisations We are developing a Bushfire Recovery Outcomes Framework for Community Organisations to help identify and measure their contribution to bushfire recovery. Stream 5. Community-led resilience We are working with key partners on a new collaboration to support and enable communities to lead their own resilience efforts. Stream 6. Clarifying who does what
March 2022
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ESF IMPACT Newsletter, Issue 21
Thinking about retirement
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study of over 21,000 police and emergency responders, undertaken by Beyond Blue (2018) found that 85% of retirees had experienced a distressing work-related event that had deeply affected them and 23% were identified as having probable PTSD, compared to an estimated 4.4% in adults in Australia. Despite their lower resilience, there was very little in the way of support found to be available at this point in the career. ESF has begun a body of work called Well Beyond to address this gap. It will guide the sector with a pioneering, evidence informed approach to supporting people to holistically prepare for and transition to retirement. Along with a comprehensive review of literature and leading practice ESF has undertaken a qualitative study to understand the lived experience of retired Victorian emergency service workers. The study undertaken by Right Management found those who had positive transitions to retirement and were flourishing in retirement typically mentioned four factors contributing to their successful transition.
1. Early planning, financial and superannuation, but also what they will do and how they will spend their time. 2. Purpose and meaning – beyond their service role including interests, hobbies, and involvement in paid or volunteer work. 3. Support/connections – critical roles played by partners, family members, friends, and their community. 4. Health – those who were physically and mentally well had smoother transitions. The key challenges study participants most referred to were loss of community and camaraderie, identity change, mental health
impact, disappointment at exit processes and lack of follow up, and not feeling adequately recognised for service and contribution. A theme which emerged in the discussions was lack of debrief / exit interview opportunity to provide feedback and adequately process their time in the service. Superannuation / financial support was highly regarded, but many said there was a lack of other support to help with their transition to retirement. Recommendations were made which will be incorporated into the Well Beyond program.
Reactions I think that this work is a great thing to benefit people in the future given the tumultuous times our emergency service people are working in. We must somehow mandate this, so it happens!
What this work does is establish a solid foundation from which we can build to ensure the failures of the past are not revisited. Without this foundational research nothing will improve.
Lex Wade Retired Parks Victoria Forest firefighter
Steve Mulligan Retired paramedic
Retirement is something that we all work towards, but do we plan for it? The Well beyond program will help agencies understand the needs of their people to assist in this important transition and lead to a better retirement experience. Michelle Young Fire Rescue Victoria
So interesting to see that so many emergency service people are interested in volunteering after retirement. Wouldn’t be it great if they could use their skill in our sector but perhaps a different agency. Fantastic to see this research with recommendations to improve how our emergency service people transition to retirement. Margaret McCarthy Red Cross
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March 2022
vicsesva.org.au
ESF IMPACT Newsletter, Issue 22
Impact of emergency service work on families
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he impacts of emergency service work on first responder mental health are well known yet less is understood about the effects of service on families. A recent study (McKeon et al. 2021) found that compared to the general population, those who informally care for first responders have poorer health, as measured by psychological distress, sleep, quality of life and physical activity. Considering the role families play in the welfare of first responders, ESF sponsored WPI students to investigate the influence of a job characterised by trauma exposure, shift work and other psychosocial risks on partners, children, and others. The students undertook a desktop review of literature and interviewed 25 family members. They found that when employees or volunteers sign up to work in the emergency management sector, they are inadvertently signing up their family too because the work so often pervades family life. Interviewees reported positives from living with an emergency service worker, including a sense of pride and respect for
what their family member does for the community. There were also negatives in relation to how the time demands of the work often disrupted personal and family life. Vicarious trauma associated with knowing about situations a loved one is exposed to could also be a burden that has an impact on the wellbeing of family members. Participants spoke about how, as young children, they were bewildered and deeply affected by the emotional state
of their parent who had been impacted by the work they do. The study provides recommendations including the need for resources and education to support people of all ages living with emergency service workers, and suggests using stories to acknowledge the important support role families play. A short video produced by the students is a first step to illustrating the lived experience of family members.
Reactions This project was a break from the highly technical work our engineering students typically do. The students not only improved their library research and writing skills, but they developed effective ways to talk with community members and families about difficult topics through their interviews. Working outside the classroom, they gained a real appreciation for a sector most of them knew little about, and they now understand the enormity of emergency service workers’ contributions. They also honed their creative skills and learned how it can influence change as they brought the voices and images of the families to life in a moving video that tells their story. Lorraine Higgins Teaching Professor at WPI
vicsesva.org.au
Thank you WPI and ESF. This presentation was very insightful and meaningful. These valuable insights and recommendations will really help to compliment the work we’re doing to better support our people and their families.
Such a powerful message illustrating both the dedication and heartfelt pride in our emergency services workers – but also highlighting the less understood and significant impacts that this dedicated service has on families and loved ones.
Acting Health and Wellbeing Team Leader DEWLP
Catherine Greaves CEO Life Saving Victoria
It was so powerful to hear audio from the interviews, people sharing the pride and sacrifices made because their loved one works in emergency services. Thank you to ESF and WPI for exploring this gap in current research. Lauren McDonald Mental Health and Wellbeing Program Lead ESTA
March 2022
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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.
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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 • • 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/
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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
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Advocating for Unit VESEP bids
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Advocating to EMV to retain the right of volunteers to go to VCAT in matters of dispute (VICSES Regulations Review)
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Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Executive and raising matters of concern to volunteers which have been brought to Board meetings
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Meeting quarterly with the VICSES Operations staff
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Supporting and promoting the annual EMV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey
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Providing grants of funds for individual volunteer welfare or hardship cases
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Supporting members undertaking the VFBV leadership courses
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Providing information and advice to individual members and Units
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Providing a support person to individual members in matters of dispute
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Collaboration with the National SES Volunteers in advocacy for matters such as transferability of skills, harmonisation of training, national recognition, awards
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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.
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
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
•
2. EMV Expert Reference Group, The 3Vs: Volunteer Volunteering Volunteerism – Uncovering the hidden value
2019 Facilitator, EM conference panel Wellbeing: a Range of Perspectives from People on the Ground
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2019 Expert Judge, Ch7 News Young Achiever Awards (CFA Volunteer Excellence category)
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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
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)
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ARE THEY TRIPLE OK?
We’re always there to help. Let’s make sure we help each other and ask R U OK? ruok.org.au/triple-ok