We’re proud to support our team members who volunteer with the State Emergency Service (SES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA), answering the call when their communities need them most.
Emergency services volunteers are often first on the ground to help those in need during bushfires, floods or responding to roadside accidents.
These everyday heroes are often the farmers, teachers and local business owners that make our communities tick. They’re also our own team members and it’s why we proudly support them to volunteer so they can answer the call when it matters most.
Southern Rural Water supports volunteers with a culture of flexibility and paid leave to volunteer when it matters most to our communities.
This flexibility allows our volunteers to respond to emergencies without the stress of choosing between their job and their community. So, when an emergency hits, they’re able to leave and help knowing we’ve got their back.
Team Leader Asset Management Matt Stagg said his experience volunteering with the SES as a Unit Officer has been made possible thanks to this support and flexibility.
"The management team has always been supportive when an emergency arises, and we've always worked together to find a balance between my role and my volunteering duties.” He said.
Matt said during an emergency that impacts our business and our communities he priorities his asset management duties before volunteering.
“During floods and big storms, I find I’m often more valuable supporting here at Southern Rural Water to ensure we protect and manage the infrastructure and systems that are critical to our customers,” Matt said.
In 2019, during the devastating bushfires in East Gippsland, we supported team members who wanted to help by enabling them to take paid leave and assist with the emergency. Each year, we offer employees three days of paid emergency service leave.
Matt was part of the SES team who were stationed at the RAAF base in East Sale and helped evacuate people from the fire-ravaged town of Mallacoota, providing transport for evacuees to a relief centre in Sale.
“It was a pretty incredible experience, seeing helicopters flying in and out, while knowing that we were doing something vital for people in crisis,” he said.
“I get a real sense of purpose and fulfillment giving back to my community.
"While it's not always easy, it’s immensely rewarding to know you’re there to help people on what can be the worst day of their life.”
Matt said he’s learned new skills through volunteering that benefit his day job too.
“Problem-solving under pressure, leading teams in tough situations, emergency communication are skills we get to learn and use in our volunteer roles that transfer across to managing critical assets in my professional role too.”
Matt said anyone thinking of becoming an emergency services volunteer should just give it a go.
“You can learn some great new skills, meet amazing people, and do something that really makes a difference,” he said.
“It’s not as big a commitment as some might think. We train once a week, and you only attend the callouts you're available for.”
We’d like to give a huge shoutout to all the volunteers at the SES and CFA, including our own team members, for stepping up and serving your communities.