NATIONAL EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER SUPPORT FUND ANNOUNCEMENT RURAL FIRE SERVICES KENTHURST
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that $20,130 is granted to the Rural Fire Services at Kenthurst.
“Supporting Australia’s volunteers in this way is vitally important. It will help them better protect their local communities and, if disaster does strike, ensure they recover as quickly as possible,” Mr Ruddock said.
“This announcement will boost the recruitment, retention and training of volunteer organisations at the front line of emergency management.”
Australia has a proud history of volunteering, particularly in the emergency services sector particularly in our own area that is subject to serious bush fires.
Some 500,000 people in Australia volunteer their time in some emergency management capacity, with 350,000 of those in the front line during times of natural disaster – principally through the various rural fire services and State Emergency Services.
“In a country like Australia that experiences floods and fires on an annual basis, volunteers are worth their weight in gold. It’s essential that Governments assist their great work as much as they can,” Philip Ruddock said.
The projects funded under the program range from the purchase of audio-visual training equipment and enhancing the quality of training provided to volunteers, to recruitment campaigns, targeted volunteer training activities, and the construction and fit-out of dedicated training facilities.
Details of projects funded by the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund can be found on the Emergency Management Australia website: www.ema.gov.au/communityengagement