Functions of ACTSESVA

What’s being planned:

The ACTSESVA is working towards a number of projects:

• Continuing to develop a regular Raffle which will allow the ACTSESVA to create more benefits for ACTSES volunteers
• Using our connection with the National SESVA to develop standardised and national approaches to issues affecting volunteers
• Working with other states & territories SESVA’s and others to develop discounts, benefits and other advantages for volunteers.

Some Recent Achievements:

Working with the NSESVA to increase the ACTSESVA funding pool through a regular raffle. This has required a major effort, to develop new bank accounts and apply for various licences and exemptions. The funding from the raffles will allow the ACTSESVA to deliver more services to members in the coming years.

Strengthening the ACTSES Peer Support Program, Representation on the ACTSES Honours and Awards Recommending Committee and Assisting with the process for the Approval for the 10 year Service Medal

The ACTSESVA also represents members through participating in regular meetings with the ACT Minister for Emergency Services, ESA Executive and Commissioner, ACTSES Chief Officer and at the National SESVA.

It was the ACTSESVA who at a Minister’s meeting introduce the 10 Year Service Medal. The SES HQ staff had been working on this medal for a while but could not get it finalised. At the Minister’s meeting the ACTSESVA Inc showed the Minister that every other state and Territory had a 10 year service medal not only for SES but also RFS etc. From this meeting things began to move and our ACTSES staff then proceeded with organising the design of the medal and the first presentation of the medal in December 2012. This medal is now part of the Honours & Awards ceremony for ACTSES during National SES Week in November each year

National body of SES Associations – the ACTSESVA Inc was invited to Sydney to attend a meeting with representatives from other SESVA’s the intention being to form a working party to form a National body of SESVA’s. The meeting included SESVA’s from NSW, VIC, WA, SA and the ACT. That working group decided to go ahead and form a national body.  Representation have been made to the other states and territories for them to join this national body. The National SES Volunteer Association was formed in May 2015 with representation from NSW, ACT, Q’ld, VIC, SA, WA. In late 2015 NT join the National SESVA and in September 2018 TAS join forming the National SESVA.

Every two years there is a National Rescue Challenge a team from the ACTSES represents the ACT at the national challenge. The ACTSESVA pays for flights and accommodation for one extra member that has been assisting the team as a reserve for the challenge. The ACTSESVA also assists with T Shirts luggage etc for the team attending the event.

The ACT State Emergency Service Volunteers Association is extremely delighted to be able to sponsor the Tony Graham Leadership & Values award. The SESVA is always working in the background to support the ACTSES volunteers so to be able to be out the front sponsoring this significant award is truly exciting. It shows that the SESVA is living up to their Objects of Association by assisting with the development of Volunteers of the ACTSES.

In 2023 the ACTSESVA although still supporting the Tony Graham Leadership & Values award in principle needed to change the arrangements with the award as the Chief Officer for ACTSES changed the criteria to include staff. Which meant that this award did not follow the ACTSESVA object of association. The ACTSESVA decided to create a new award called the ACTSESVA Volunteer of the Year Award:

Criteria

• Address one or more of the following:
• Dedication to duty beyond normal expectations.
• Involvement in the development or implementation of a SES awareness or prevention program.
• Contribution to the efficiency, effectiveness and development of the SES through ingenuity and innovation.
• Demonstrated excellence in preparedness, response and safety at an incident.

The ACTSESVA in 2019 created another award for ACTSES Volunteers. The name of this award is
ACTSESVA Youth Achievement Award.

The proposed criteria for this award are:

1. Must be between age 16 and 25 year 
2. Dedication to duty beyond normal expectations or,
3. Involvement in the development or implementation of a SES awareness or prevention program (e.g. community safety activity, recruitment drive)
   
   

The recipient of this aware will also be part of the NSESVA Young Emerging Leaders unit and will be part of the guard of honour at the National Emergency Service Memorial Service in Canberra run b AFAC. The recipient will also have the opportunity to attend an AFAC Conference with all expenses paid by ACTSESVA.

We have been instrumental in negotiating with the Canberra Airport Group (CAG) to find a better way for the volunteers to park without paying. Although parking fees were reimbursed by ACTSES it was a long drawn out procedure that could take up to six weeks for a volunteer to get their reimbursement. The ACTSESVA worked with the CAG to organise Exit cards for members attending Fairbairn on an ad hoc basis and account cards for Pialligo Unit members who attend Fairbairn on a regular basis. This negotiation in turn also assisted the RFS, Ambulance and Fire & Rescue. The Commissioner and Minister thank the ACTSESVA Inc. for their assistance.