Grants support emergency services units

EMERGENCY services units in the Geelong region and across Victoria have received funding to support their ongoing service to the local community as part of the Victorian Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants.

Announced earlier this month, the 2023-24 VESEP recipients include the CFA, SES, Surf Life Saving Clubs and Marine Search and Rescue Units, and will share in almost $15 million to purchase equipment and enhance emergency response capability to ensure community safety.

VESEP is an annual grants program that provides funding to Victorian emergency services volunteer groups to purchase essential operational equipment, vehicles and appliances and minor facility improvements.

Units across the Geelong region funded in this financial year include:

• CFA Corio, for operational equipment
• CFA Portarlington, for a state-of-the-art Field Command Vehicle
• CFA Mannerim, for IT equipment
• Bellarine SES, for a replacement vehicle
• Torquay SES, for vehicles and appliances
• Barwon Heads 13th Beach Surf Life Saving Club, for a Isuzu Dmax 4wd vehicle, outboard rescue boat motor and resuscitation training manikins
• Ocean Grove Surf Life Saving Club, for two Gen III Thundercats, galvanised boat trailer and rescue tubes and boards, and
• Queenscliff Coast Guard, for for a TEK47c2dc1 Ford Everest, cargo barrier and MSAR/Coast Guard branding.

Bellarine MP Alison Marchant welcomed the awarding of the VESEP grants.

“The Victorian Emergency Service Equipment Program provides volunteers with the equipment and facilities they need to continue their selfless work and we’re grateful for all that they do to protect our community,” she said.

“Victorian emergency service volunteers work incredibly hard to keep our communities safe, which is why we’ve invested more than $123 million in VESEP grants to support the critical work they do.”

“Congratulations to all the volunteer groups receiving grants, it’s a pleasure to see first-hand the benefits programs like this provide for our dedicated volunteers.”

Through this round of grants, CFA brigades have received more than $10.8 million, Victoria State Emergency Service units received more than $2.4 million, Life Saving Victoria’s surf lifesaving clubs received more than $850,000 and Marine Search and Rescue crews received more than $350,000.

Recipients of VESEP grants can put their funding towards minor facility upgrades, including new carpet, security cameras or IT equipment, or towards the purchase of utility vehicles, trucks, tankers, watercrafts and rescue boards.

The Victorian government says it has provided $123 million in VESEP grants since 2015.

For more information or to view the full list of grant recipients, head to emv.vic.gov.au/vesep