By Callum Ludwig
Christmas came early for the hard-working emergency services volunteers in the community with the announcement of a raft of funding changes
Announced on 13 December, the Victorian Government’s funding boost and revamp aims to improve access to new trucks, equipment and technology for CFA and SES crews, particularly the latter after a long campaign from volunteers.
Upper Yarra SES Unit Controller Hannah Brunton spoke to the Star Mail in May 2024 when SES volunteers came together for a convoy over the Bolte Bridge and said she was really overwhelmed and so so proud when she heard of the announcement.
“So many volunteers have spent so many hours lobbying for these changes and to see all of their hard work, finally pay off was incredible,” she said.
“Not only because of the hard work of the volunteers that were pushing for change but also for all of the volunteers around the state who do so much for the service and our communities; whether it’s jumping on a chainsaw, extracting patients from vehicles, preparing BAS lodgments or undertaking school visits – it is great to finally see recognition for these efforts,”
“To no longer be seen as the ‘poor cousin’ of the emergency services, with increases to the funding we need and deserve, we are closer to being seen as equal.”
The cost of fuel, vehicle maintenance, equipment maintenance, equipment replacement, consumable items and utilities are all expenses SES units either have to pay for or apply for grants to cover.
Ms Brunton said this is a huge burden off their shoulders.
“SES Units operate like individual businesses, we have expenses and overheads and this funding will help to reduce some of the strain that unit management teams and our volunteers experience,” she said.
“Currently, to combat the strain of so many expenses, we fundraise, which not only takes money from the communities pockets but also time off our hands, this change to funding will mean more time to actually benefit the community we are here to serve.”
The Victorian Government is set to spend $70 million establishing a rolling fleet replacement program for both VICSES and CFA, double the annual Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) to more than $62 million of grants available, invest $53 million to modernise the VicEmergency app and the emergency services’ central database EM-COP, $30 million into training and uupskill programs for VICSES and replacing the Fire Services Property Levy with a new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund (ESVF) which will support VICSES, Triple Zero Victoria, the State Control Centre, Emergency Management Victoria, Emergency Recovery Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria, in addition to the CFA and Fire Rescue Victoria.
Ms Brunton said all of it is such a huge relief and will benefit the whole state in more ways than she can count.
“The increase to VESEP will be a huge help, currently only a small percentage of applications are approved and missing out on a VESEP grant has all sorts of implications at a unit level which just causes more unnecessary pressure on our volunteers,” she said.
“It (the campaign for sustainable funding) has been fantastic, the convoy and other campaign work being undertaken by our volunteers have really opened the eyes of people across the state, not just regarding our funding shortfalls but also more broadly who we are and what we do,”
“This whole campaign has been such a positive movement and everyone who has been involved should be so proud of what has been achieved.”
Active CFA and VICSES volunteers and life members will be eligible for an exemption from paying the ESVF on their primary place of residence such as a house or farm, and as the Fire Services Property Levy did before it, the ESVF will be collected by councils and appear on rates notices.
