Kalbarri SES now open to all volunteers after State Government eases COVID jab mandate

A Mid West SES unit is joining the growing number of WA volunteer organisations on the lookout for new recruits following the easing of COVID vaccine mandates.

As of Friday, only those working in healthcare, residential aged care and residential disability settings are now required to be triple dose vaccinated under WA’s COVID jab mandates.

Prior to this, those in paid and volunteering roles at most sites and workforces needed to keep up to date with their COVID vaccines.

Kalbarri SES unit manager Steve Cable was forced to turn away a handful of potential members while the mandate was in place.

Now, Mr Cable is encouraging those who missed out and others eager to give back to their community to get involved with the unit.

“I think I have picked up two or three new recruits (since it was announced the mandates would ease) but more is always good,” he said.

“There might be other people out there who would consider volunteering now that that mandate has been lifted.”

Mr Cable said the Kalbarri unit had a “healthy” number of volunteers, but more hands were always needed in the event on an emergency.

“If the callout is in town you will have about 20 or 25 people volunteer,” he said.

“But if it is out of town, which we do a lot of ... to get a team together you need more people available if other people are on leave or at work,” he said.

Mr Cable said there were roles for all skill levels and abilities with the SES, with training provided.