Our Activities

The NSESVA Yearbook

The National SES Volunteers Association was formed in 2015 to provide a national perspective and a national voice. The NSESVA Board of Directors decided in 2022 to produce a Yearbook capturing stories from all eight jurisdictions. Now this Yearbook is an accessible resource which educates, informs, and celebrates the work of the volunteers across Australia. The Yearbook is an opportunity to take a national overview and realise what a significant contribution SES volunteers make to national emergency response, community safety and development of social cohesion. It provides the opportunity to acknowledge the sacrifice made by ordinary people and to celebrate their achievements. The Yearbook receives articles from all jurisdictions. Submissions can be made to the

respective jurisdictions’ SESVA by August each year.

NSESVA Young Emerging Leaders Program

“An amazing opportunity: we immediately hit it off and created lasting friendships over our common

experiences in orange” David Lang, Queensland"

The National SES Volunteers Association is committed to developing younger members who will in turn develop the emergency services for the future of Australian communities. A decision was made to run an annual program in Canberra to coincide with the AFAC National Memorial Service. NSESVA devised a program of activities that would expose the Young Leaders to strategic thinking in the sector, developments in science, networking with peers, senior sector leaders and federal policy-makers, and involve them in the formalities of the AFAC service. The schedule of activities may vary each year. Past activities have included: engagement with national emergency sector leaders, visits to Parliament House, Geoscience Australia, the National Emergency Management Agency, the ACT Emergency Services Agency, and formal speaking presentations. Applications and selections are administered annually by each State or Territory SESVA.

Better Tax Review Submissions

“Getting a fair go”

In 2015 the National SES Volunteers Association made a submission on behalf of the 28,000 State and Territory SES Volunteers. The submission advocated to allow State and Territory SES Volunteers to claim a $1,500 tax deduction for expenses directly related to volunteering.

Value of Volunteers

“Demonstrating the economic contribution of volunteers.”

In 2015 the University of Sydney updated a study into the economic contribution that SES volunteers make to their communities. The study validated results that had previously been undertaken by Professor John Handmer.