Singleton’s emergency services internship program, designed to provide young people with basic emergency preparedness skills, is returning for a second year.
Funded by the Federal Government’s Preparing Australian Communities Grant and delivered by Council in partnership with the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC), state emergency services agencies and the Singleton PCYC, the internship program is open to anyone aged 16 to 24 years who lives in the Singleton local government area.
The program, which will take place from 7 February – 27 March 2024, will teach participants about emergency response preparedness and recovery through practical hands-on training with the NSW Police, NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS), State Emergency Service (SES), Fire and Rescue NSW and NSW Ambulance. Participants will also complete their first aid certificate.
Justin Fitzpatrick-Barr, Council’s Director Infrastructure and Planning Services said with disasters including fires, floods, drought and a pandemic affecting Singleton in past few years, young people who live locally had a great appreciation for the role of first responders in our community.
He said the internship program would run once a week, with four-hour sessions every Wednesday evening over eight weeks.
“Our emergency service agencies are staffed by both professionals and volunteers and play an absolutely vital role in our community,” Justin said.
“This internship program gives young people a fantastic insight into what it takes to work for these organisations.
“Participants will have the opportunity to engage with active agency personnel and gain real hands-on experience with these organisations. They will also receive first aid training and increase skills in leadership and communication in the process.
“This is a wonderful, free opportunity for our young people to gain on-the-job training and experience in emergency management and disaster preparedness and I encourage anyone aged 16-24 years to submit an expression of interest form.”
Expression of interest for the internship program close on 31 January 2024.
IMAGE | Singleton’s Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC)
