Operation Veteran Assist | Community organisation

Operation Veteran Assist

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24.01.2022 This is how we roll, an hour into fire affected areas and then straight to aid a veteran that has lost everything... #operationveteranassist #australianbushfires #rslvictoria

21.01.2022 One of the tasks for OVA today a local three generation dairy farm. Felling burnt trees and saving the farmers valuable time. #australianbushfires #bushfirerelief #australia #australianveterans @ Bruthen, Victoria

21.01.2022 Not every day does an organisation as young as ours get an acknowledgement in the Australian Senate. But, today we were lucky enough to have Senator Raff Ciccone talk about the work of Operation Veteran Assist in Gippsland over January. We're thinking it is time for another deployment...

21.01.2022 **URGENT **||**URGENT** Ironside Recruitment, a veteran owned company and led by a fellow veteran and Operation Veteran Assist volunteer, is urgently seeking to recruit paid staff in response to the impending crisis within Victoria over the next few hours, days and week due to COVID19. Starting from as early as 8am tomorrow, they need at least 50 staff to reinforce Aged Care Facilities who have been impacted by COVID19 and the new staff rules that means staff can only work at... one site (previously used to work across multiple). Must have had the flu vaccination and can confirm it. Tasks could range from cooking toast to cleaning toilets and facilities but importantly caring for our most vulnerable. Staff will undergo online and on-the-job training in PPE and be protected by Ironside insurances and government legislation regarding the contracting of COVID19 as a primary carer. If you are available for paid work then please send an email (no resume or cover letter needed) to [email protected] and [email protected] Must include: Full name. Phone number. Email. Flu vax confirmation. Availability to start. If you are unable to work for whatever reason but would look to volunteer in such times of crisis. Please send an email to [email protected] with the above details and we will be able to discuss your individual circumstances.

21.01.2022 OVA Veterans volunteer to fill a staff shortage @bullantbrewery in fire affected Bruthen Gippsland. Skill sets supplied forklift operator, kitchen hand and keg washing Bullant Brewery generously made sure the team with well-watered after tasks where complete :@chad.sherpa #bushfirerelief #australianbushfires #australia @ Bullant Brewery

20.01.2022 Operation Veteran Assist MkII is a go and we will have the event details up by close of business today! Heading back to Gippsland to assist a veteran who needs new fences put back in... Just got off the phone from the CEO of RSL NSW. We have are making significant progress towards approval for funds and insurance from them to get on the ground in NSW and the ACT.... Hasn't been as fast as we would like but sometimes it is worth the extra time and effort to cross the t's and dot the i's.

19.01.2022 So many different skill sets coming from our veterans, cooks, admin, paramedics, safety staff, photographers and the hard lifting vets smashing out the work. All contributing to the OP achievements

17.01.2022 it was a pleasure cleaning up a CFA firefighters property this week :@chad.sherpa #bushfirerelief #australianbushfires #australianveterans #operationveteranassist

12.01.2022 Planning has commenced for OVA to provide support to the veteran community during a statewide level pandemic response to COVID19. In the event of large scale closures and quarantining of public infrastructure/facilities - eg, public transport, restaurants, shops, RSL Sub-Branches etc. then OVA would be very well placed to provide practical and meaningful support to those most vulnerable to a serious COVID19 (as is currently predicted) outbreak - elderly and vulnerable Austral...ians. 50% of the RSL Victoria Veteran members are over the age of 80yrs and will be the hardest hit (in both death rate and lifestyle impact) by a serious outbreak. Concept of Operations is as follows: 1. Establish a large warehouse facility to store, sort and pack food/essential commodities for elderly/vulnerable veterans. 2. Distribution of food packs/essential commodities to elderly/vulnerable veterans. 3. Provide a link between the elderly membership and the broader community to reduce the impacts (health screening, taking the bins out, hygiene/cleaning assistance, provision of up to date information and reduce social isolation) of a sustained quarantine. This will be conducted in a manner which protects all parties from further spread of the virus - details based on the best available health advice. Risks: 1. OVA becomes a virus vector and spreads the virus to those most vulnerable in the community - exacerbating the naturally occurring pandemic. Mitigation - Adherence to best practice procedures for health/hygiene. Selected volunteer workforce. Minimal exposure to vulnerable members of the community. 2. Costs will be high to supply food/essential commodities to the large RSL Victoria veteran population over the age of 80yrs. Mitigation - Forward planning prior to large scale shutdowns to gain access to required classes of supply. 3. Sustaining a volunteer workforce for a sustained period of time during a global pandemic. Mitigation - Forward planning and establishment of robust self-protection measures by a volunteer workforce. Sufficient resourcing to minimise volunteer 'burn out'. 4. Widespread deaths/infection across the RSL VIC Veteran membership leads to high numbers of deaths/illness beyond the capacity of current volunteer welfare capacities. Mitigation - I see little alternative to trying to prevent the inevitable harm caused by a largescale COVID19 outbreak in Victoria. The alternative is that elderly veterans are left at home to their own devices. Unacceptable to do nothing. Next Steps: 1. Confirm volunteer leadership available to lead a response. 2. Confirm funding arrangments. 3. Communicate to broader RSL Victoria leadership to gain support and cooperation. 4. Link into EMV to ensure OVA response is coordinated and cooperating with state health officials. 5. Prepare warehouse and acquire stores to implement the plan. Any questions or queries on how we should proceed? Regards, Dave Petersen [email protected] 0401 282 122

10.01.2022 What a way to celebrate Australia Day and also thank those that deployed on Operation Veteran Assist! The details of Operation Veteran Assist MkII will also be announced for all to hear. The spit and beer will be on the house from 2 to 3pm.... With Australia Day falling on a Sunday and the public holiday on the Monday - Help us celebrate Australia Day at the Hawthorn RSL Beers! BBQ! Band!

09.01.2022 Mars like conditions over the last days, hot, smokey and dusty. So proud of the volunteer veterans! They have worked so hard & achieved a lot for Bushfire communities, strangers up the start of the week now brothers or sisters. :@chad.sherpa #bushfirerelief #teamwork #australia #australianbushfires #theproject

08.01.2022 Eyes on the prize - safety first!

07.01.2022 Hazardous conditions today, heavy smoke but the veteran team just keeps pushing through. Like we always have and will... :@chad.sherpa #bushfirerelief #australianveterans #operationveteranassist #australia

04.01.2022 The second day of veterans working hard to help others. Super effort team!

01.01.2022 **BREAK//BREAK** Tomorrow, Friday 17th January 2020, will be the last day of operational taskings for Operation Veteran Assist in Bruthen, Victoria. The team will demobilise on Saturday. The rationale for this late decision is a real time deconfliction requirement with the wonderful team at BlazeAid who are moving into Bruthen for the next few weeks/months. We don't want to get in their way and they are staying where we are currently staying.... This isn't a good bye but simply a time for all of us to take stock of the situation, reset and then go again - planning has already commenced for Operation Veteran Assist MkII. Wait out for details to follow. To all those still out on the ground making a tangible impact for veterans impacted by these devastating fires. Thank you and stay safe. Remember the most dangerous thing we will do is driving, particularly whilst fatigued. Fast is slow. Slow is fast. Image is from Bruthen Cricket Club last night just before the cool change swept through. We were on the ground, working hard and breathing in the world's most polluted air yesterday.