- Nearly
60 WA businesses honoured at Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards
- Selfless
approach plays key role in keeping Western Australian communities safe
- Cook
Government thanks volunteers for their key role in boosting community
safety
Western Australian businesses have been
celebrated for their unwavering support of emergency services volunteers over
the past year at the 2023 Volunteer Employer Recognition Awards (VERA).
Now in its 15th year, VERA recognises the
critical role employers play in supporting employees so they can fulfil their
duties as first responders.
VERA also acknowledges the self-employed
volunteers who often have to close their doors or turn down jobs at a moment's
notice to attend incidents.
Today, 57 businesses from the Great Southern
to the Kimberley were announced as VERA recipients, joining a distinguished
group of nearly 1000 businesses which have been recognised since the awards
began in 2009.
The diverse group of recipients – ranging
from small restaurants to large resource companies – includes 14 self-employed
volunteers.
With the Department
of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) on high alert for another busy summer, WA
businesses will again be a pillar of support to keep the State safe.
Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:
"On behalf of the
Cook Government and all Western Australians, I would like to thank and commend
these businesses that so generously give their workers time off to attend to an
incident or lend a hand in the recovery program.
"It is through the
commitment of our volunteers and their employers that DFES can provide a 24/7 service
to more than 2.7 million people across the largest jurisdiction in the world.
"These businesses
played a key role in allowing volunteers to attend major incidents over the
past year when communities were at their most vulnerable, including January's Kimberley
floods and the Donnybrook bushfires.
"They also provide
ongoing support by permitting volunteers to take time off to attend incidents,
training and taking part in community programs.
"We are also deeply
indebted to those selfless self-employed volunteers who often sacrifice their
own profits by closing their doors to respond to emergencies."
Please
find a full list of the 2023 VERA recipients below.
