It’s time to unlock your superhero status – the ACTRFS and ACTSES want you

Posted on 27 February, 2025

Looking to learn new skills and give back to the local community? The ACT Rural Fire Service (ACTRFS) and ACT State Emergency Service (ACTSES) are looking for new volunteers – and they want you.

Calling for 130 bright-eyed and bushy-tailed locals to join their ranks, the ACTRFS and ACTSES are two valuable members of the ACT’s emergency services, providing essential help to emergency preparedness, response and recovery.

Without volunteers, these services wouldn’t exist – and 29-year-old ACTSES volunteer Madelin-Strupitis-Haddrick and 68-year-old ACTRFS volunteer Tina Siver have loved every minute of their combined 27 years of service.

“I joined after the Canberra 2003 fires. I joined in 2004 because I have always been quite involved in volunteering and committing to different organisations,” explains Tina.

“I joined in 2019. I was fairly new to Canberra; I was a new graduate – one of those young professionals who moved here – and I had always been quite interested in natural disasters and how to help people effectively in those. I thought I had a few skills I could offer and a whole lot more I could learn,” adds Madelin.

ACTSES volunteer Madelin-Strupitis-Haddrick.

Helping with a range of activities from fighting fires to helping make temporary repairs during storms and assisting during community days, both women say that volunteering has changed their life for the better.

From undergoing training that’s expanded their skills to connecting them to new people in the community, their experiences in the ACTSES and ACTSES have gone beyond their expectations.

“Over the last 20 years I have achieved a Certificate IV in Community Emergency Management and all of the different courses test your abilities – from four-wheel driving to aircraft navigation, and first-stage weather observations,” says Tina.

“It’s so diverse, it just gives you an opportunity to really expand your knowledge in a number of different areas.”

ACTRFS volunteer Tina Siver.

“I’ve gotten so many things our of the SES and so many memorable experiences within that, but I’d say overall what I’ve gotten out of it is the chance to learn those new skills and to practice and exercise leadership at quite a young age,” says Madelin.

For those interested in learning more about the ACTRFS and ACTSES, an information session is being held on Saturday 1 March so you can head along to ask all your burning (pun-intended) questions.

Perfect for those still working full time (like Madelin) or for those seeking something different to do in retirement (like Tina), both women say it’s worth seeing if volunteering with the emergency services is something they’d like to do.

Because it’s well worth it.

“It’s a really wonderful community,” says Madelin.

“If you’re someone who is new to Canberra, or seeking more connections, and you’re willing to do a bunch of teamwork and help the community, you get so much out of it.”

“As an older volunteer, I want to still be involved,” adds Tina.

“I’ve certainly met some people that I feel I’m part of the community with them and they’re my tribe. I think people volunteer for the ACTRFS and ACTSES for the right reasons – to meet people, to gain skills and to feel like they are making a difference.”

Applications for both the ACTRFS and ACTSES are open until Saturday 8 March. To register your interest in attending an information session or to find out more about these opportunities visit esa.act.gov.au/join.

Images supplied.