The SES Volunteers Association (SESVA) has registered an SES Volunteers number plate as a service to its members. The purpose of the plates is to increase the recognition of the SES volunteers in WA.  A picture of the suggested plate design is shown below. 

Approximately 50 sets of the plates have now been registered and issued to SES Volunteers throughout the State.  Unfortunately demand for the plates has slowed to a trickle and we are in danger of having the plate series cancelled unless applications are received for ten (10) plates during 2012.  So if you are considering applying for a set of plates now is the time to act.

A set of two plates will cost $175.00 which will cover the charges set by the Department of Transport and a small administration.  The SESVA is the registered owner of the plate design and has to apply to the Department to Transport for the plate issue.  All applications for the plates must be made through the SESVA; Individual applications for this special plate’s series to the Department of Transport will not be accepted.

How to apply
Simply go the Licence plate page in the left hand slider of this website and view the information on which plate numbers are available, download the application form and follow the simple instructions.

The SESVA has been asked by the Department of  Premier and Cabinet to compile a list of WAERN issues for discussion with FESA in the near future.   It seems that as far as FESA is concerned the WAERN project is in the finishing stages and there are NO major issues, which is definitely not the opinion expressed by some volunteers and units.

To ensure there is sufficient documented information to take back to FESA.  The SESVA  requests you provide ASAP any issues that you are aware of (even if we have already discussed them) but please be mindful of the following criteria:

Describe the issue briefly, but identify what causes the issue (technical failure, non-compatible equipment, shortage of equipment, training issue, etc)

• The issue should be verifiable and/or repeatable (so not personal opinions or 3rd hand anecdotes)
• Where possible identify who has the issue (so we can go back to the person/brigade/unit and work on a solution)
• Identify if the problem has already been referred to District Managers etc
• Identify any potential solutions if known

Please have any responses back to the SESVA by Thursday   23 February 2012.  Please send your comments to mail@ses-wa.asn.au  Sorry about the short notice but this has just been bought to the attention of the SESVA.
 
 

A message from a member of the Public.

I just want to thank you for a job well done for searching for the missing man in Yanchep.  I have only recently moved to Yanchep WA, and am absolutely amazed at how everyone pulls together at a time of emergency.  We had a team come to our house to do a back yard search, they were so polite and professional, especially, after searching the whole day they must have been so tired...   Thank you to all the volunteers for giving up your time!   I will be looking into becoming a volunteer too, after what I saw!

An 87-year-old man missing in Yanchep for two days has been found this morning (Thursday).  A police spokesman said Norman Mills was located safe and well in Yanchep about 6.30am. Mr Mills is being treated at the Joondalup Health Campus for dehydration and sunburn, but is otherwise in good health.    SES Volunteers alongside Police had been involved in searching for Mr Mills on Wednesday night. There were 152 SES volunteers involved in the search operation drawn from SES Units accross the Metropolitan area.  One of the new lighting towers from ESL funding was used in the Search HQs. The new $45,000 lighting tower ( complete with bells and whistles) was supplied by Bayswater SES unit. Also our thanks to the Salvos for catering.

Coverage by

Phillip Petersen ESM

SES Volunteers are extensively trained in land search operations and are called on routinely by the WA Police Service to locate missing persons or forensic evidence following a crime.

SES Volunteers receive training in the following aspects of land search operations ;

• Search operations
• Provision of field headquarters
• Search teams management
• Search technics
• Incident management
• Communications
• Conduct rescue
• Provision of access to untrained personnel
• Transfer casualties to ambulance / medical aid
• Emergency power / light
• Provision of field catering

SES Volunteers at the Yanchep search during briefing

The following Comments have been sent to the SESVA on the SES Training issue and the response by FESA.  If you wish to add your comments please email them to: sescomment@gmail.com

Comment 1

I have now read FESAs response.  I am told DARREN KLEMM ACOO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT is real nice guy, but already in his new career and in this case his letter has failed to address the issues expressed to him.   If FESA had a review in 2009 and they are now just acting on that (and who was to say that consultant was right,,, FESA is showing a habit of getting consultants to write things to support someone in FESA's opinion rather than what would be good of organisation...eg recent review of ATVs). However the action is without any customer (specifically SES volunteers) consultation at any stage that I am aware.  Really..... (something about pulling the wool over our eyes!!!)  FESA is so busy trying to be different to other states emergency services, that it’s in its own non state of well being.  Give us a SES division with a champion who will stand up for us (the SES and its volunteers) and the WA communities we serve........................

Comment 2

I personally don't think SES fit into the restructure of FESA at all in training or any other area, we cover too broad a range of hazards and none of them include fire.  They don't know what we can do for our community, they don't have the will or means to acknowledge our experience and other qualifications. The path is very much one of least risk to them with very little bearing on the volunteers or potential service delivery let alone the flow on positives in retention by looking after the volunteers making things easier for them and even helping them enjoy their volunteering!
After 12 years I am less qualified now than 7 years ago because I am a tl so my role focuses on looking after my team members and it is too hard to have my own skills recognised, I am not a fan of redoing courses just to get back qualifications that a 30 min assessment could prove I have!

Comment 3

I have looked at the letter by FESA about the training of us volunteers.  It says nothing!!!!!  When are they going to get their act together
I read in the paper the other day where the new chief says that he is giving all the firies a helmet torch and this will change the culture
What a whole lot of rubbish.  What about the volunteers who protect and support their communities.  Everything appears to have ground to a halt within FESA, especially for Volunteers.  Volunteers do not figure in the Police Models or FESA's models!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment 4

I am absolutely appalled at the attitude of FESA with regard to volunteers.  FESA was formed to coordinate emergency services, not just career firefighters, but to include the 30,000 odd volunteers throughout the State.  When do the volunteers get the same respect and benefits as the career firefighters?  In my opinion the volunteers should be more respected as they are “VOLUNTEERS” and DO NOT GET PAID FOR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE.  The State of Western Australia could not afford these dedicated people and they deserve more respect.
FESA’s response to the SES Volunteer Association article regarding the downgrading of training at Forrestfield is another case of using a huge amount of words to say absolutely nothing!!  It seems to be a favourite ploy of FESA, hoping we will all get bored and go away.  IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.
Volunteers were here long before FESA came into being and I believe they will be long after this latest debacle is finished.  Unfortunately those in the positions to make the decisions have never been volunteers and do not understand what it means to volunteer. FESA needs to realise that trying to make itself into a second Police Department is not going to work.  If we wa nted to be Policemen we would have joined the Police Force!  I am with the person who said give us our own SES Division, run by SES for SES and let us get on with providing a valuable service to the people of Western Australia.  Take a long look at  yourself those in charge at FESA, you need the volunteers more than the volunteers need you.

FESA making changes  read the full circular as there are many issues that will effect you.    FESA General Circular - CEO SAYS FESA MAKING BIG CHANGES (2).pdf

Original Article posted on the website

In the West Australian 24 October 2011 FESA CEO Gregson was quoted as saying that he was astounded at the lack of training in FESA. We are also astounded and the Volunteers have an expectation that he will fix this by ensuring appropriate resourcing, staffing and funding, to ensure the effective and timely training of State Emergency Service Volunteers.

Our worst fears have been realised with FESA’s new training structure and the reduction of State Emergency Service training staff at Forrestfield Training Centre. The new training structure appears to be modelled on another service and is predominantly designed for the enhancement and development of FESA’s career staff. Whereas this may be good for the career staff there is no mention of training of the State Emergency Service Volunteers anywhere.

Please note that the number of operational hours by the 2200 volunteers who carry out the SES function far exceeds the number of operational hours by the SES career staff. This probably applies to the other Volunteer Services as well. The State Emergency Service has over twenty (20) courses that are specific to the State Emergency Service Volunteers and these are negotiated and agreed to at a national level.

The training component for FESA Volunteers far exceeds that of the career staff (more than 30 000 Volunteers versus 1 000 operational staff) and as such the training structure needs to reflect this.
The State Emergency Service based Volunteers are community based and as representatives of their communities have an expectation of appropriate Service Based training.

Previously there was a participative approach with SES Training and this worked well as these Volunteers had many transportable skills and organisational abilities from their employment and other roles in the community. The Staff trained the trainers and the Volunteers delivered the training to the volunteers with assistance for complex or higher level training.

History shows us that splitting and merging the SES functions with fire and other areas will not provide effective training and like the paper work that disappears in some regional offices, or the banning of ATVs by a non-relevant report, the SES Training will suffer badly and become ineffective or non-relevant for the SES functions.

CEO Gregson needs to get a handle on the community focussed SES Volunteers and their requirements for training immediately and provide a separate identifiable stream for the development, support and delivery of training for the community centred Volunteers of the State Emergency Service.

FESA Response

David Price
SES Volunteer Association
PO Box 530
BELMONT WA 6984

Dear David

Thank you for the opportunity to meet with you and Gordon Hall on Thursday 2nd February 2012 to discuss the restructure of the FESA Training Centre.

During this meeting it was decided that information on the strategic intent of the restructure would be beneficial in ensuring that SES volunteers are fully aware of the status of SES Training within the new structure.

In August 2009, a review of the organisational structure of FESA Training Centre (FTC) was undertaken by Price Consulting Group. During the review a range of issues were identified that directly impacted FTC's capacity to respond to and meet service delivery needs. The key objectives of the restructure are:

Separate the training and compliance functions.
Sections grouped by functions rather than customer. Accommodate the creation of a cadre of permanent instructors. Establish a trainer/ assessor development and audit function.
Separate the functions of core foundation operational training from career officer development

Establish a campus management function.

Whilst the final new structure for FTC has not been finalised the current SES staff levels will be maintained with the possibility that this number may be increased. Consultation with all staff has been ongoing and will continue as we move closer to finalising the new structure.

I also accept your invitation to attend the next SES Volunteer Association meeting to address this issue.

Yours Sincerely

(SIGNED)

Darren Klemm
Assistant Chief Operations Officer Professional Development FESA Operations

FESA Training Centre
547 Dundas Road, Forrestfield, WA 6058
T: 94540777 F: 9454 0714 M: 0407 804 715 E: Darren.klemm@fesa.wa.gov.au

To read the document click link 120211 trg fesa klemm.pdf

SESVA Response

A group of volunteers submitted an article to this website 01/02/2012 on the above subject. FESA took exception to the material and demanded to have it removed; the SES Volunteer Association Executive Group met and discussed the matter.

As a sign of good faith and subject to an urgent meeting, called by ACOO Gary Gifford for 2 February to give a reply, the article was temporarily taken off the SESVA website. The Association met with FESA's ACOO Metro SES (Gary Gifford) and ACOO Training (Darren Klemm) on Thursday afternoon (2 Feb).

At that meeting FESA gave an undertaking to forward to the Association within seven days of the above meeting, the strategic document outlining where the SES training for Volunteers and associated staff are situated in the new structure. Suggestions were made on how they could assist the Volunteers and how the new structure could be marketed.

Although the ACOO SES Metro stated that the document on the Association's website was not balanced, the Association supports and stands by the submitted document as being representative of the views of many volunteers.

FESA have now responded to the meeting and the letter they have sent does not address any of the questions about training for State Emergency Service Volunteers. It is just FESA’s way of diffusing the whole issue of training and service delivery to Volunteers in the Emergency Services sector of Western Australia.

The simple question "Where does SES Training for Volunteers and Staff fit into the training structure" was a major point of discussion at the meeting and it has not been addressed in the attached letter. Once again FESA has promised something verbally but fails to deliver to the Volunteers of Western Australia. The State Emergency Services Volunteers Association are very interested in feedback and comments by SES Volunteers

Please direct these to: sescomment@gmail.com

This article as a word document     SESVA Training Issue Update.doc