Emergency volunteer develops new skills and leadership

Heidi King was a recipient of the Emergency Management Volunteer Scholarship, which helps volunteers to gain new skills and develop their leadership in the sector.

A volunteer with the Tasmanian SES has been gaining news skills while studying at Edith Cowan University.

Heidi King is a volunteer with the Search and Rescue Northern Region and has been studying a Graduate Certificate in Disaster and Emergency Management through the Emergency Management Volunteer Scholarships.

“I am passionate about contributing to a team which strives to be the best it can be for the benefit of the community.

“When I was asked to step up to Deputy Unit Manager for my Search and Rescue Team in 2018, I made a commitment to learn everything I could in order to fulfil my leadership role to the very best of my ability,” Mrs King says.

Mrs King says the scholarship allowed her to address her new responsibility and keep a personal commitment to learning and knowledge.

She says her studies took her in a new direction, to learn about an area she was previously unfamiliar with.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to learn and to broaden my horizons by engaging with emergency service colleagues right around Australia.

“Connecting with likeminded first responders has given me the confidence to contribute to my own unit in a more meaningful way.

While Mrs King acknowledges there is still much to learn, she says the opportunity to immerse herself in formal study has kept her accountable to the commitment she made to her team.

“There is a collective willingness to learn and upskill and a growing desire to help each other learn and become the best we can be for the sake of the community we serve.

“There is no doubt in my mind that the opportunity to study has significantly contributed to my confidence in nurturing and encouraging our team to be the best we can be.

“I am grateful for the Scholarship Program support and hope the Tasmanian community continues to benefit from a stronger, more informed team well into the future,” she says.

The Emergency Management Volunteer Scholarships empower volunteers to develop their skills and leadership in the emergency and disaster management sector.