NSW State Emergency Services members will have their life-saving training assessed using a new app, ensuring they are available to assist their communities within 24 hours.
The Mobile Assessment App will save significant volunteer time and replace a paper-based system. The app will play a critical role in getting new members out to help their communities in time for the upcoming storm season.
Volunteers will now be assessed as competent and available to assist their community within 24 hours, in areas such as:
- road crash rescue
- flood rescue
- chainsaw operations
- driving operational vehicles
- operating communications equipment
- traffic safety.
Since the app’s first release in 2013, firefighters have completed training in areas such as structural firefighting, road crash rescue, hazardous materials response and emergency medical care.
Minister for Emergency Services Troy Grant said there are more than 9,000 State Emergency Services volunteers that support NSW communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and the skills they need are vast and varied.
“From flood and storm emergencies to road accident rescues and bush searches, our dedicated volunteers deal with a whole raft of trying scenarios that require specialist skills,” said Mr Grant.
“This new world-class training app will enable recently joined SES members to get out in the field quicker, and bolster the skills of existing volunteers so they can better manage a range of emergency situations.”