Published on Thursday, 19 November 2020 at 8:00:00 AM
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services acknowledged the vital contribution employers, and self-employed volunteers, in Western Australia provide to the community with the Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards.
A network of 26,000 highly trained and highly skilled volunteers make up more than 95 per cent of the State's emergency services personnel. VERA recipients support volunteers from the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Bush Fire Service, Marine Rescue WA and the State-Wide Operations Responses Division.
Whilst there are currently 260 WA employers who are active participants, only 68 small and large businesses received honours during this year of challenging economic conditions for enabling volunteers to attend emergency incidents and training that fall within work hours.
COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHIRE OF EXMOUTH – SHIRE PRESIDENT MATT NIIKKULA
"Exmouth wouldn't be the same community without the many volunteers who make a positive impact on this community. This is particularly true for our emergency services volunteers involved in the bush fire brigades; SES, Exmouth Marine Rescue and St. Johns Ambulance. Supporting our emergency service volunteers by allowing them to be paid when called away from work during work hours is a small price to pay for being kept safe."
COMMENTS ATTRIBUTED TO THE SHIRE OF EXMOUTH – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CAMERON WOODS
"We're excited being awarded the VERA as one of only six Local Governments in the whole of Western Australia. Enabling volunteers in our organisation adds great value as we are subsequently engaging a more diverse range of skills, experience and knowledge into our workforce while providing our staff with the opportunity to be involved within the community they live in, work for and love."
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Media Release to Download: SHIRE OF EXMOUTH RECEIVES VOLUNTEER EMPLOYER RECOGNITION AWARD (VERA) AWARD
Additional media on request.
Media contact: Sandra Flint, Communications & Media Liaison Officer, Shire of Exmouth
M: 0459 431 439 | E: sflint@exmouth.wa.gov.au
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