Ash Bolt
Victoria State Emergency Service units across the Greater Geelong region are looking to grow their ranks to better serve the community.
VICSES is starting its first recruiting drive in the region since the start of the pandemic, to improve the service’s response to an increasing number of call outs.
VICSES volunteers in South West Region, which includes Geelong, have responded to more than twice the number of calls for help in January 2022, compared to this same time last year.
VICSES Geelong unit controller Rachel Vella said the service was the perfect fit for anyone wanting to make a meaningful contribution to their community and meet new people.
“At VICSES, we have members from many diverse backgrounds that come together to become part of our orange family,” she said.
“I have learned so many things and met wonderful people both in the community, and within VICSES. We have a broad range of roles from responding to jobs in the field to other roles such as engaging with the community on emergency preparedness.
“We are particularly interested in people who can respond to requests for assistance from the community during daytime hours. We would also like to hear from people who may be interested in unit leadership roles, training coordination, and managing incidents.”
VICSES volunteers respond to storms, flooding, tsunami, earthquakes, and landslide, as well as taking part in road rescues and supporting other emergency services.
Earlier this month, 10 local VICSES volunteers were deployed to help communities that were impacted by the recent floods in New South Wales, performing boat rescues, sandbagging, community liaison, and incident management.
The service is looking for new members at its Corio, Geelong, South Barwon and Winchelsea units, as well as the Regional Headquarters Unit based in the Geelong Regional Office.
Members will be provided training in first aid, general rescue techniques, chainsaw operation, temporary emergency repairs, search and rescue, incident management and other necessary skills.
VICSES will hold two information sessions for potential volunteers interested to know more.
The sessions will be held at the regional office at 90 Furner Avenue in Bell Park at 10am on Saturday, April 2 and 6.30pm on Wednesday, April 6.
To register your interest for the information sessions, visit ses.vic.gov.au/join-us/volunteer
