Published on Monday, 21 October 2024 at 2:23:54 PM
The Shire of Carnarvon has been recognised as a recipient of the prestigious 2024 Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards, joining 82 businesses and self-employed volunteers across Western Australia in being acknowledged for their invaluable contributions to emergency services. This recognition highlights the vital role that supportive employers and self-employed volunteers play in the State’s emergency service efforts, where over 95% of personnel are volunteers.
The Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards celebrate employers who enable their staff to respond to emergency incidents and participate in essential training by offering flexibility and support. Many self-employed volunteers also sacrifice their business operations during emergencies, often at a personal financial cost, to assist their communities in times of need.
The Shire of Carnarvon was recognised for fostering a workplace environment that actively supports volunteer participation in emergency services. By offering flexible work arrangements and reducing the financial burden on employees, the Shire demonstrates its commitment to empowering its staff to serve the community.
“We are proud to support our employees who volunteer for emergency services,” said Shire’s Acting CEO John Attwood. “At the Shire of Carnarvon, we understand the challenges small communities face in attracting and retaining volunteers. That’s why we developed our Paid Volunteer Emergency Service Leave program in 2022 to encourage greater participation and make volunteering more accessible.”
A Growing Commitment to Volunteering
Before 2022, Shire employees were able to volunteer but often had to use their leave or take leave without pay, which created a financial strain. To address this, the Shire introduced the Paid Volunteer Emergency Service Leave program, which provides employees with dedicated leave for volunteering. This initiative has seen employee participation in emergency services rise dramatically - from just 5% in 2021 to approximately 35% in 2024.
The program allows staff to be on-call during work hours, attend vital training sessions, and respond to emergency incidents, ensuring they can support organisations such as St John Ambulance, SES, Carnarvon Bush Fire Brigade, Carnarvon Volunteer Firefighters, and Carnarvon Volunteer Marine Rescue. Additionally, employees can take time off to recover from night callouts without compromising their regular leave entitlements.
“By offering Paid Volunteer Emergency Service Leave, we’ve not only increased volunteer numbers but also reduced the financial impact on employees. This helps sustain our local emergency services and ensures our community is protected when it matters most,” John Attwood stated.
Looking Ahead
The Shire of Carnarvon remains committed to promoting community integration and volunteerism. The Paid Volunteer Emergency Service Leave program is regularly advertised in the Shire’s weekly newsletter Team Tales and is featured as an employee benefit in recruitment efforts, further encouraging participation in vital local volunteer groups.
The Shire of Carnarvon’s recognition at the 2024 Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards stands as a testament to its dedication to community support, volunteerism, and the safety of Western Australia.
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