VICSES Units to receive $2.05 million in VESEP grants

Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino has announced 45 VICSES Units to be the recipients of the 2017-2018 Volunteer Emergency Services Equipment Program (VESEP) grants, equalling a total of $2.05 million.

The Minister made the announcement today from the Stawell unit, which successfully applied for $65,000 to help in the purchase of a new Crew Cab vehicle. The new vehicle will significantly improve the unit’s ability to respond to incidents in areas with steep terrain and limited road access, such as in the Grampians National Park.

The VESEP program offers grants of up to $100,000 ($2 for every $1 funded by volunteer agency) to fund operational equipment, including vehicles, trucks, tankers, watercraft, trailers and minor facility upgrades.

Thanks to VESEP, a total of $13 million in grants will be distributed to emergency services volunteer groups throughout the state to help them keep Victorian communities safe:

• $9.55 million for volunteer CFA brigades
• $2.05 million for SES units
• More than $750,000 for Life Saving Victoria clubs
• More than $320,000 for the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association
• Almost $290,000 for other volunteer organisations
• Almost $50,000 to cover additional costs incurred by volunteers.

VICSES units submitted a total of 52 grant applications in 2017/18 from which 45 were successful. Follow this link to see the complete list of successful units.

VESEP is an ongoing program funded by the Victorian Government. Those Units who were unsuccessful in this year’s round are encouraged to re-submit their project or another project in the 2018/19 VESEP grants program.