2017 WA Fire and Emergency Services Conference

The seventh annual Western Australia Fire and Emergency Services conference (WAFES) will be held from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 September at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The theme for the 2017 WAFES conference is Changing Lives.
This year the program will include presentations from
- Director General Emergency Management Australia Mark Crosweller AFSM
- Major General John Cantwell AO DSC
- Robyn Moore, motivational speaker
For more information visit WAFES Conference.
SES WOW Day
Wear Orange Wednesday (WOW Day) is being held on 10 May 2017, coinciding with National Volunteer Week (8 to 14 May 2017).
WOW Day provides an opportunity for the community to recognise and celebrate the hard work and dedication of State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers throughout Australia.
The community can show their support in a very simple, but highly visible way by wearing orange. This is the colour worn by more than 2,000 SES volunteers across Western Australia who provide assistance to the community during natural disasters and emergencies.
Take this opportunity to give back to those who give so much.
Think orange and thank orange.
Thanks, SES!
Firefighting School Graduations
Every year DFES holds graduation ceremonies for new Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) recruits to thank them for their commitment to emergency services in Western Australia.
The ceremonies give family and friends an opportunity to let our new FRS recruits know how valued they are as they embark on the beginning of a new firefighting career with DFES.
This event is held each year in recognition of recruits who have graduated as career FRS firefighters.
For more information please contact the Events and Promotions Officer on (08) 9395 9894.
Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service State Championships
Every year the VFRS championships showcase the skill, speed and agility of our firefighting volunteers in a spirited sporting environment.
The Championships are the pinnacle of the VFRS brigade competition and encourage healthy rivalry among our volunteer firefighters.
The VFRS State Championships provide an opportunity to strengthen existing friendships and form new bonds with brigade members throughout Western Australia.
2016 dates:
- Alcoa State Open Championships - Harvey - Saturday 5 March and Sunday 6 March
- Annual State (Easter) Championships - North Fremantle - Saturday 26 March and Sunday 27 March
- State Junior Championships - North Fremantle - Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 November
Requests for nominations for these Championships are usually sent out to Brigades about 8-10 weeks ahead of the Championships.
For further information, please contact Office Administrator Jodie Neuzerling by calling 9279 8610 or emailing admin@frsvols.asn.au
International Firefighters' Day Memorial Service
DFES holds an annual Memorial Service in recognition of International Firefighters' Day.
The 2018 Memorial Service will be held on Sunday 6 May.
The service acknowledges Western Australian career and volunteer Fire and Rescue Service firefighters, and volunteer Bush Fire Service firefighters, who have passed away in the line of duty.
The Department welcomes the attendance of family members of those who are being remembered, and all past and present career and volunteer firefighters. Members of the public who wish to remember WA fallen firefighters are also welcome.
For more information and to register your attendance, please contact the Events and Promotions Officer via email at rsvp@dfes.wa.gov.au
National Volunteer Week
The 2016 National Volunteer Week will run from Monday 9 to Sunday 15 May.
National Volunteer Week is an opportunity to focus on volunteers across Australia and is a chance to acknowledge the critical roles they perform and to formally thank them for their enormous contributions to our respective communities.
In Western Australia there are more than 29,000 Emergency Services Volunteers and this special week is also an opportunity to thank the families, friends and employers of our own volunteers (including those who are self-employed) for the backing they provide to volunteering, by allowing the volunteers to do their jobs.
Bushfire Action Month
Bushfire Action Month is held annually in October, to call upon the community to prepare their homes and families ahead of the bushfire season. For more information, click here.
Thanksgiving Service
DFES holds a Service of Thanksgiving for personnel and volunteers at St
Georges Cathedral each year.
The service is in recognition of the vital role that WA’s fire and
emergency service personnel play in protecting our community.
The multi-denominational service, which is open to the public, is a
unique opportunity to say thank you to families and loved ones for their
ongoing support.
The 2017 Thanksgiving Service will be on Sunday 15 October.
Volunteer Employees Recognition Awards (VERA)
The DFES Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards (VERA) acknowledge the important contribution made by employers and self-employed volunteers in the delivery of emergency services in Western Australia.
The 2017 VERA ceremony will be on Friday 3 November.
Career National Medal and Emergency Services Diligent Service Medal Ceremony
This ceremony is an opportunity for DFES to recognise, celebrate and thank career emergency services personnel for giving their time to serve others and achieve their best for DFES and the community.
The 2017 medal ceremony will be on 4 October 2017.