These annual seminars have national recognition and representatives from all States and Territories are attending. There is no doubt that Victoria is the leading State in emergency management but there is a tendency for complacency to creep in, particularly due to the infrequency of major emergencies.
The Committee consists of members, both retired and currently serving, who have had many years experience in emergency management. The Committee is of the opinion that due to this infrequency, Victoria is is not really prepared as well as we should be. This we hasten to add is no reflection on any agency but there is a perceived lack of interagency and coordination training of the many services required in a major emergency. These seminars hope to address some of these inadequacies.
The Committee has the support of Government and in fact receives some financial funding to help defray the cost of the seminar as many of the attendees are from voluntary agencies. The Committee is also well aware of the budgetary constraints on all the agencies but we do seek your support for these annual seminars and encouragement for a member involved in emergency management at all levels to attend.