Volunteers at the core: Honouring Australia’s Emergency Services

Standards Australia celebrates Wear Orange Wednesday, a national day of appreciation for State Emergency Service (SES) workers and volunteers, by shining a spotlight on its important work in the community nationwide.

To mark the annual event, held on May 21, as part of National Volunteer Week, Standards Australia recognises its partnership with the National Council of Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) along with the standards we have developed and strengthened together to ensure our nation’s emergency services volunteers are as safe and effective as possible.

Standards Australia CEO, Rod Balding, said AFAC and its member organisations contribution to standardisation was significant and strengthened its life saving work.

“Managing safety as part of emergency incident response requires a commitment to excellence and dedicated early planning. AFAC’s behind-the-scenes expertise includes dedicated nominees from emergency services organisations across Australia who use their expertise to drive positive change on more than 50 different standardisation committees. They represent the emergency services sector alongside other stakeholder and industry bodies to focus on safety and improving safety standards."

“Emergency response succeeds through the collective capability of those involved. Helping to create internationally recognised standards is one more way the fire and emergency services sector helps to protect every Australian.”

Standards play a critical role in safeguarding both emergency personnel and the communities they serve, from ensuring the reliability of life-saving medical equipment to setting best-practice frameworks for occupational health and safety.

AFAC representatives play a role in more than 50 different volunteer committees which are all run by Standards Australia.

Setting the Standard for Safety and Excellence

Emergency services operate in high-risk environments where preparedness is paramount. For example, AS/NZS ISO 45001:2018 - Occupational health and safety management systems, provides a structured approach to minimising risks and fostering a culture of continual improvement. By integrating this standard into daily operations, emergency organisations can enhance worker protection, improve response times, and uphold the highest standards of safety.

“Standards are a critical component of emergency response,” says Rod.

“From PPE to medical equipment, safety management to crisis response, standards help to ensure that those who protect us have the safest, most effective tools and systems in place.”

Enhancing Reliability and Worker Protection

Reliable equipment is fundamental to emergency response. The adoption of new ISO standards for respiratory protective devices will significantly enhance the safety of first responders by ensuring superior performance and protection. The national overhaul will see two outdated Australian standards replaced by a suite of 30 international standards by 2030.

Additionally, AS/NZS 3551:2012 - Management programs for medical equipment, ensures that critical tools such as defibrillators and life-support machines are properly maintained and ready for use when lives depend on them.

Rob Webb, CEO of AFAC, highlighted the importance of these advancements.  

Rob says, “Emergency personnel, including our sector’s significant cohort of volunteers, face unpredictable and often hazardous conditions. The implementation of rigorous standards provides an important foundation of trust, ensuring that equipment, training, and safety systems are at the highest possible level to protect those on the front lines.”

A Commitment: Continual Improvement

With climate change driving more frequent and severe natural disasters, emergency services must constantly adapt to new challenges. Standards like AS/NZS ISO 9001:2016 - Quality management systems, help organisations refine their response strategies, ensuring coordinated and effective action in times of crisis.

As Australia celebrates the dedication of emergency service volunteers, it is also a moment to recognise the essential role that standards play in enabling them to perform their duties safely and effectively. Standards Australia remains committed to working alongside emergency services to develop and uphold best-practice frameworks that protect both responders and the communities they serve. Ultimately, standards aim to protect every Australian, every day.