COMMent Newsletter September 2009

Contents

A Message from the Chief Executive, David Place

South Australia is set to embark on a significant and sustained period of change in how the government and the community prepares for and responds to bushfires.

SA's Bushfire Task Force, established to examine the issues arising from the Royal Commission into the devastating Victorian bushfires of February 7 2009, has accelerated, and provided a renewed focus, for the State's bushfire preparedness.

On Thursday, 10 September 2009, the State Government announced some of the initiatives and recommendations put forward by the Task Force that will be implemented to help elevate South Australia to a new state of fire readiness. Read David's update.

Recruiting and retaining female fire service volunteers

A survey of Country Fire Service (CFS) female volunteers has found that they are very happy overall with their experiences within the volunteer-based fire and emergency service. Read More

From the Board

Update from the SAFECOM Board meeting held in August:

1. Review of our Act
2. Strategic Planning
3. Budget
4. Workforce Plans
5. MFS reserve fund
6. CFS overtime and relief factor
7. 3-Year Capital Plan
8. SES Cultural Climate Assessment
9. Board Confidentiality

Click here to read about the Sector Highlights Report.

Emergency service community projects boosted by funding grants

A number of significant community projects across the sector are set to benefit from a funding boost following the announcement of the 2009/10 EMA National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund grants. Read More

Future firefighters skill up

In a national first, the CFS has teamed up with the SES, SA Police (SAPOL) and SA Ambulance (SAAS) to provide students considering a career in emergency service with hands on experiences. Read More.

Board visits the Fleurieu

The SAFECOM Board took the opportunity to visit the State's Fleurieu Peninsula which is home to more than 1200 emergency services personnel.

The visit also coincided with SAFECOM's Volunteer and Employer Recognition and Support Program (VERSP) and a volunteer-organised road crash rescue exercise. Read More.

Emergency services combine to improve road crash rescue training

Currently our three emergency service agencies, the SA Metropolitan Fire Service (MFS), SA Country Fire (CFS) and the State Emergency Service (SES), regularly combine their skills and expertise out in the field and now they are doing the same behind the scenes in the area of RCR training. Read More.

To submit an article for COMMent e-mail SAFECOM Public Affairs