Corrective Services NSW officers undertaking training to become SES volunteers.
Eight staff members of the Macquarie and Wellington correctional centres in the State’s central west have signed up to join the State Emergency Service (SES) as volunteers.
The seven custodial officers and one senior case manager completed a week-long intensive training course in March, focussing on urban rescues, road rescues and first aid.
Senior Assistant Superintendent of Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW), Mat Pike, who is also the local SES commander, said it was the biggest annual boost to their ‘orange army’ numbers.
“We have increased the response capacity of our SES team by 400 per cent, which is so important to help keep the Wellington and Dubbo communities safe in times of need, particularly as we have such big and busy roads in our region,” Senior Assistant Superintendent Pike said.
“Staff did a great job getting hands on with the training and we’re very grateful to management at both prisons for allowing this opportunity,” he said.
“The work our officers do every day definitely helped with the SES training as some of the skills such as teamwork, good communication and risk management are interchangeable.”
CSNSW signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the NSW SES last year to encourage all staff to sign up as volunteers.
The eight Wellington volunteers will next complete training in storm rescues.
Senior Case Management Officer Aaron Edwards said he decided to sign up as he wanted to give back to the community.
“After seeing the work my son has done with the SES, I thought I’d like to do my bit to help,” Mr Edwards said.
“It’s great that the Department allows us the opportunity to volunteer with the SES, to further our skills and make a valuable contribution to the community,” he said.
