We are excited to share that Programmed Training Services (PTS) has been honoured with the 2024 Volunteer Employer Recognition Award (VERA), celebrating our commitment to supporting employees who volunteer for emergency services.
Awarded by the by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services, this prestigious recognition highlights our ongoing dedication to building outstanding people, strong customers and great communities – the core of our mission at Programmed.
Our nomination for the award came from Rhian Ambrosius, one of our dedicated apprentices and a volunteer with the Karratha Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service.
Rhian’s work as a volunteer in her community and her acknowledgment of the support she receives from Programmed exemplifies the strong relationship we foster with our employees and their contributions to their communities.
Volunteering: The Heart of Regional and Rural Communities
In rural and regional areas, volunteer emergency services are the backbone of community safety.
In fact, a network of 26,000 highly trained and highly skilled volunteers make up more than 95% of the state’s emergency services personnel – including the State Emergency Service, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service, Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services, Bush Fire Service, Marine Rescue WA and the State-Wide Operations Responses Division.
Volunteers like Rhian dedicate countless hours to ensuring the well-being of their communities, often responding to emergencies under challenging circumstances.
Programmed recognises the vital role these services play, and we’re proud to support our employees in their volunteer efforts; our employees who serve as volunteers are granted flexibility and leave arrangements to attend emergency call-outs and training sessions, ensuring they can fulfill their duties – both at work and within their communities – without the stress of having to choose between the two.
We believe that volunteering not only strengthens the individual but also enhances our collective mental health and well-being, by fostering a sense of belonging and purpose.
Why Volunteering Matters
Beyond the direct benefits to community safety, volunteering offers significant personal rewards.
Studies have shown that volunteers experience improved mental health, increased connection with their community and a stronger sense of purpose.
By supporting employees in their volunteering activities, Programmed encourages a culture aligning with our values of care and empathy, and personal safety leadership.
Rhian’s nomination for Programmed underscores how we prioritise both the personal and professional development of our staff; whether it’s providing paid leave for emergency training or offering Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support after difficult incidents, we are committed to ensuring that our volunteer employees have the resources and flexibility they need to thrive.
Continuing Our Commitment to Community
As recipients of the 2024 VERA, Programmed is committed to continuing our support for volunteer emergency services.
This award is a testament to our belief that community safety starts with strong, well-supported individuals.
We are proud of Rhian and all our employees who volunteer their time to support their communities.
Their efforts align with Programmed’s core purpose to build outstanding people, strong customers and great communities.
As we look to the future, we will continue to champion volunteerism – recognising its importance in sustaining healthy and resilient communities.
About the VERA
The Department of Fire and Emergency Services acknowledged the vital contribution employers – and self-employed volunteers – in Western Australia provide to the community with the VERAs.
It celebrates the mutual benefits of fostering a culture of support for volunteerism, where both the business and the community are stronger for it.
