Vaccine mandate “likely close” for state’s emergency volunteers

Queenslanders could be left vulnerable to summer disasters as fears grow a looming vaccine mandate will spark SES volunteers to walk away from the already decimated organisation.

Queenslanders could be left vulnerable to summer disasters as fears grow a vaccine mandate will prompt more SES volunteers to walk away from the already decimated organisation.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services has announced that “it is likely that QFES will require staff and volunteers to be double vaccinated in the near future”.

The announcement has the Queensland State Emergency Service Volunteers Association scrambling for feedback on the pending mandate from members in a bid to pre plan for the predicted Big Wet and fire season.

SES volunteers. Pics Adam Head

“We have close to 17,000 volunteers about 12 years ago and now we have 5,100. We have faced big challenges in recruitment and retention of volunteers and there are concerns about losing any more, especially in the summer season. Queenslanders rely on volunteers. We worry most about floods,” a spokesman for the association said,

“This is a hot topic and we are keen to know what is going on. If the mandate is announced, we will want a consultation with QFES to talk about the impact on volunteers,” he said.

The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted higher than usual rainfall associated with the LaNina and the state has already seen a horror start to the wet season.

The blue card mandate for emergency volunteers hit SES numbers hard with 2000 outed.

A vaccine mandate would impact more than 2000 full time firefighters and 2000 on-call auxiliary firefighters.

There are tens of thousands of volunteers in the Rural Fire Service and also the SES volunteers.

The RFS provides services to 93 per cent of Queensland.

The QFES told The Courier-Mail that it is working on its plan in response to public health and social measures and the impact COVID-19 will have on personnel and the community when the Queensland border opens on Monday.

SES volunteers filling sandbags.

“While it is not currently mandatory for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) staff and volunteers to be double vaccinated against COVID-19, it is likely that QFES will require staff and volunteers to be double vaccinated in the near future, so they can continue delivering their services to the community in a safe manner for themselves and the public,” a spokesman said.

“Consultation is continuing with relevant unions and associations on this plan and we will continue to work with them throughout this process.

“Some QFES operations — such as international and interstate deployments, border operations or entering vulnerable communities require those completing the tasks to be double vaccinated”.

The volunteers association supports the current status quo.

“A large proportion of our volunteers have already been vaccinated and at the moment it is a developing situation that we are keeping a very close eye on,” he said.

The United Firefighters Union John Oliver believes that the decision on fireys has been lagging due to the tens of thousands of volunteers.

“The union is watching and waiting before taking a stance on this. We want to see how court cases about mandating play out.” he said

The emergency services double vaxx mandate would come months after ambulance officers, police and health workers received their vaxx directive.

On November 1 Queensland Health suspended 4000 health workers who did not comply with the mandate. On November 11 92 police officers were stood down for refusing to be vaccinated.

Originally published as Vaccine mandate “likely close” for state’s emergency volunteers