2013 Emergency Services Volunteer Leadership Forum

Eight Bush Search and Rescue Victoria members attended the 2nd Victorian Emergency Services Volunteer Leadership Forum held in May 2013. The event sponsored by the Emergency Services Foundation (ESF).  Around 170 delegates from around Victoria attended, including CFA, SES, Volunteer Ambulance Vic (CERT Teams), Red Cross, other regional Search and Rescue organisations, and BSAR.
BSAR attendees Paul Phillips, Trevor Key,  Eric Krista, Geoff Williams, Wayne Merry, Peter Campbell, Rod Costigan and Murray Irwin.

The BSAR attendees were Paul Phillips, Trevor Key,  Eric Krista, Geoff Williams, Wayne Merry, Peter Campbell, Rod Costigan and Murray Irwin.

Organisations that were new to conference this year included the Department of Sustainability and Primary Industry (DEPI), Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB), St. John’s Ambulance, Life Saving Victoria and a Victorian Council of Churches Emergencies Ministry (VCC), faith based emotional support organisation.
This reflected the intention to bring together more emergency services organisations, and to provide longer term support to communities following initial emergency situations.
The forum was an excellent opportunity to hear and learn about the wide variety of Emergency Services Organisations across Victoria and to meet some of their members.
The sessions on day 1 were:
Life Saving Victoria – Organisation of youth, follows the MANERS model of psychological first aid for those involved in traumatic or emotional situations – (Minimise exposure, Acknowledge the event, Normalise the experience, Educate as required, Restore or refer, Self care).
Fromelles – driving a project against the odds to completion.
ESF scholarships presentation.
Building member resilience, by a CFA member
Shock mitigation (reducing impact on bodies from waves) in rescue boats. Australian Volunteer Coast Guard
Emergency Services looking forward, key themes were the creation of Emergency Services Victoria, use of  Incident Management Teams (IMTs), consequence management, resiliency and inter-agency cooperation.  Craig Lapsley, Fire Services Commissioner
The Australian Centre for Post Traumatic Mental Health, CEO SES
Panel and open forum – Senior Operational Commanders from Victoria  Police, MFB, CFA, DEPI, VicSES and Ambulance Victoria answered questions from the floor.  There was focus on “resilience not reliance”  and on collaboration between agencies.
We visited several emerency services locations across Melbourne, as illustrated in the following photos.
HEMS Rescue helicopter with winch
Lifesaving Vitoria rescue helicopter
MRB Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) vehicle
Urban Search and Rescue equipment briefing
Media room of the Victorian State Control Centre
Emergency Service panel discussion

 

Last Updated on February 17, 2021