18 VICSES members have been involved in the Women in Lifesaving Network’s Ready 2 Lead Program over the past two months, run by Lifesaving Victoria (LSV). 

Running annually, the 2023 intake counted 47 women in its cohort; who participated in the multi-agency event from across our volunteer emergency services, including lifesavers and the aquatic industry.

Photo: 2023 Ready 2 Lead cohort (credit: VICSES)

During structured sessions over several weeks, participants heard from senior leaders in our  emergency services sector on the skills that they had found to be essential to success in their journey.

(Credit: VICSES)

The final panel discussion included Sharon Unthank - Senior Assistant Chief Officer Regional Operations, VICSES; Catherine Greaves, Chief Executive Officer, Life Saving Victoria; Commander Emma Conway, Country Fire Authority; Janet Stevenson APM, Detective Superintendent, Victoria Police; and Dawn Hartog AFSM, Acting Director of Sector Resilience and Emergency in the Water Catchments Group at the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (pictured above).

The discussion included stories about building a resilience to personal setbacks, and focusing on finding networks of support.

Sharon Unthank spoke of the benefit of having a mentor, especially early in her career, who moved her forward with advice to build her knowledge. She spoke about how she dealt with a loss of self-belief following a challenging period, and how responding to adversity can bring about a new kind of confidence. As the first female fire management officer in the state, and the first female Regional Controller at VICSES, Sharon related these experiences to the Ready 2 Lead cohort, for the benefit of those who would succeed her as the second female VICSES Regional Controller, and beyond, as a leader at VICSES and in the wider Victorian community.

VICSES members of the Ready 2 Lead cohort, pictured with Chief Officer, Operations, Tim Wiebusch (credit: VICSES)

Samantha Nott, Deputy Controller of VICSES Rosedale Unit, and one of the 18 participants from VICSES, was especially moved by the panel’s open and honest discussion of the challenges to good mental health that are presented by managing a large team or organisation. The panel discussed how to normalise an individual’s journey to better mental health, and the importance of being true to your own values.

Samantha also put her hand up to perform a role in formal proceedings, by introducing panelist Catherine Grieves, Chief Executive Officer at Lifesaving Victoria.

Emerging leaders like Samantha, who is doing a degree in community and human services, is a full-time carer, and heads up a blended family with her partner that includes six children, plays a role as a leader in many parts of her life. As Deputy Controller at Rosedale, she is responsible for the finance at the unit, along with training and recruitment.

Samantha can also be found where the action is. She was instrumental to her unit’s recent Road Crash Rescue successful simulation, as commander of a crew successfully assessed for a new three-year period of accreditation; as one of 104 RAIR (Road, Aircraft, Industrial, Rail) Rescue VICSES Units across the state.

Participants included VICSES San Remo Unit, Controller, Amanda Chancellor; VICSES Phillip Island Unit, Controller, Bri Reid; VICSES Sale Unit, Controller, Codie Powell; VICSES Lorne Unit, Section Leader, Diane Solomon; VICSES Warrnambool Unit, Controller, Emily McCullagh; VICSES Yarram Unit, Deputy Controller, Fiona O’Conner; VICSES Upper Yarra Unit, Deputy Controller, Hannah Brunton; VICSES Glen Eira Unit Member, Hannah Netto; VICSES Monash Unit, Deputy Controller, Jenny Seeto: VICSES North West Metro Regional Unit, Deputy Controller, Kathy Barrett; VICSES Nillumbik Unit, Section Leader, Lacey Martin; VICSES Woomelang Unit, Controller, Lisa Emblem; VICSES Footscray Unit, Section Leader, Matthea Rudolphy; VICSES Portland Unit, Deputy Controller, Melissa Polaski; VICSES Heathcote Unit, Section Leader, Melodie Thompson; VICSES Bellarine Unit, Deputy Controller, Nicole Shortis; VICSES Rosedale Unit, Deputy Controller, Samantha Nott, and VICSES Hamilton Unit, Section Leader, Sarah Cross.

Attending the final day event was VICSES Chief Officer Operations, Tim Wiebusch, who - along with VICSES Chief Executive Officer Stephen Griffin - has been lockstep in his support for the new and diverse generation of leadership at VICSES.

From townships on the Murray to the north, throughout the Mallee, over and between the ranges to the east and around the central plains; from the Bellarine to Port Phillip Bay: our volunteers are ready. Interested in volunteering with VICSES? Join Us.

Quotes attributable to VICSES Phillip Island Unit, Deputy Controller, Brianna Travers:

“Everyone was extremely dedicated, whether they were lifesavers, firefighters, SES members, everyone was there for that common purpose of that dedication to the service they work with and their community. Without being committed to your community, you couldn’t do this job.”

Quotes attributable to Senior Assistant Chief Officer, Sharon Unthank:

“The programme works so well because it teaches people to be authentic with who they are leading. To do that you have to find out who you are, and get in touch with what’s important to you.”

Quotes attributable to VICSES Rosedale Unit, Deputy Controller, Samantha Nott:

“I think the biggest takeaway I had was about work life balance. I always thought I was bad at achieving this, but the panel said that - though is no balance - you learn to blend. I learned that this was normal, not to set expectations against yourself, but to work with what you could reasonably be expected to achieve.”