JANE AGIRTAN INDEPENDENT

Currently, government funding covers the operating expenses for SES units including fuel, electricity, rent and day-to-day costs, however local volunteers are left to fundraise to maintain equipment, facilities, and replace aging vehicles, which is unsustainable.

The SES receives no recurring funding and yet a significant amount of emergency services rely on SES in some shape or form.

There are over 4800 volunteers within VICSES and from June 2022 to June 2023, there were 287,373 volunteer hours contributed, equating to an economic value of over $503 million.

Volunteers attend a majority of natural hazards and disasters, which is significant heavy lifting where the overwhelming majority are volunteers with families, jobs and responsibilities who take the time to get up at 3 am to extract people from cars in an accident and repair roofs in the middle of the night but not really being valued for it.

Lack of funding leaves branches struggling to keep up instead of focusing on safe service delivery.

If elected, myself and other REAL independents will lobby Kingston council to increase funding of Chelsea and Moorabbin SES – too much is being spent on fringe issues council doesn’t control yet so little on essential services.

During recent terrible storms, damaging, 130 km winds and severe flooding around the creek our SES volunteers risked their lives – least council can do is increase funding

I will work with SES in a positive, respectful and constructive manner and I would love to use my 50K strong local social media following to educate the community about important work that they do, encourage people to donate, join as volunteers and attend SES events.

Building and sheds on our Gippsland farm were completely destroyed in February 2024 storms and our residential properties had severe damage with fallen trees blocking the drive way.

On both occasions SES were amazing to deal with, I have so much appreciation for their work!