History Of ACTSESVA

Prior to the ACTSESVA’s inception in 2008 the ACTSES volunteers were represented by the Volunteer Brigades Association. The ACTSES volunteers were invited to become part of the Volunteer Brigades Association when ACTSES and RFS co-located in 1997.

In November 2007 all ACT State Emergency Service volunteers and staff were invited to participate in a survey regarding the SES volunteers’ future with the Volunteers Brigades Association (VBA). The completed surveys were returned and of the 214 survey instruments that were sent out 54 responded. On the 30 January 2008 feedback was requested on these responses. On the 6 March 2008 another letter was sent by Tony Graham and Paul Cortese as co-chair of the VBA Involvement Review Group attaching a document that showed each of the responses received regarding the survey results. This letter then advised that a vote would be taken where Tony and Paul would attended each unit and voting slips would be issued and collected by them. The result from the vote was there was an overwhelming response for a separate organisation. A request went out to the units requesting a representative from each unit to be a member of the Association Working Group that would form the new association.

The first meeting of the Working Group was held on 5 May 2008 where 3 representatives attended at this meeting a Chair was elected and we started work on what the members through the survey were asking of an association. At the next meeting of the Working Group on the 2 June 2008 we had representatives from 5 units attending and at this meeting we started work on our own constitution. The outcome from this meeting was that we needed feedback from the members on the objectives and membership for the association. Copies of the Belconnen Volunteers Association Constitution was forwarded to all SES members through the Admin Officers to assist with the feedback.

Our next meeting of the Working Group on 14 July 2008 had us collating those responses and continuing on with the constitution. The next meeting on 4 August 2008 saw us recognise that the time frame that we had suggested on 2 June 2008 was not plausible, the constitution would take more meetings to complete. So we decided to have weekly meetings until the constitution was finalised. On the 25 August 2008 we had our final meeting regarding the constitution a copy of which was sent to each member of the Association Working Group for them to cross the “T” and dot the “I” this took a little longer than anticipated due to the fact that as volunteers we still have another life called work and family. For the new association this was a good time as a resident lawyer Sonja was able to go through the document with a fine tooth comb. The final draft of the constitution was forwarded to all members on 8 October 2008 requesting feedback by 15 October 2008. On 15 October 2008 the Association Working Group met again and went through all the responses and recorded all updates on the constitution. This constitution was then accepted by the AWG and we formed the first Board so that the paperwork for incorporation of the association could be completed.

On the 15 October the first Board of the ACTSESVA was appointed and the necessary paperwork was completed so that the Association could be incorporated. This took place on the 20 October 2008 and we were advised by the Office of Regulatory Services that we were an incorporated body. The first AGM of the ACTSESVA Inc. was held on 26 November 2008. Immediately after the meeting a general meeting was held to elect the Board delegates to the positions of President, Treasurer and Secretary. It was from this date the ACTSESVA Inc. has been representing and working for the volunteers of the ACTSES in many ways.

The ACTSESVA Inc is an independent body and is govern by the volunteer members of the ACTSES, which means we make our own decisions and we are not advised by any other organisation how to act.