The Echuca and Rochester units are seeking volunteers eager to dedicate their time and receive nationally accredited training to assist the community during emergencies.
The Victoria State Emergency Service (VICSES) is a volunteer organisation with 150 units across six regions, dedicated to minimising the impact of emergencies by providing urgent assistance and enhancing community safety.
Kyabram SES deputy controller Gail Octigan said volunteers are needed all across the Campaspe Shire units as their numbers have dwindled in past years following COVID and the recent natural disasters in the area.
SES units from Rushworth, Rochester, Echuca, and Kyabram are coming together to promote the Campaspe Cluster Recruitment Campaign in the hopes of attracting volunteers to the four units.
“Rochester and Echuca lost a lot of volunteers after the floods because they were just drained, and some moved out of the area for obvious reasons,” Mrs Octigan said.
The units are offering volunteer positions for people of all capabilities, whether you want to be a part of on-the-ground emergency management, or work behind the scenes in community engagement or administration.
“Every position in our unit is important. For example, over the Christmas period, in a two- to three-week period, we had 83 callouts for assistance,” Mr Octigan said.
“So not only do we need to get them assistance, we also need someone to report all of that and put all the information into the system.”
Volunteers that choose to be on the operational side of the unit, however, can receive specialised training to prepare them for emergency and rescue situations in their weekly training nights.
To express your interest in becoming an SES volunteer, email kyabram@ses.vic.gov.au or visit ses.vic.gov.au/volunteer
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