10 September 2024

TAFE NSW is helping local State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers sharpen their chainsaw skills and better protect the community in a crisis.

A special two-day course was recently held with TAFE NSW forestry teacher and experienced forester Adam Farquharson, arming local SES volunteers with the hands-on skills to better operate and maintain chainsaws.

The masterclass was part of a statewide program that will see up to 500 SES volunteers earn a Statement of Attainment in Chainsaw Operation – Trim and Cut.

“This course is giving SES volunteers the practical skills and experience to better protect communities and aid in their recovery, particularly after serious storms,” Mr Farquharson said.

“They learned how to maintain and sharpen chainsaws, and how to safely use a chainsaw and polesaw to prevent injuries.

“This will ensure graduates can safely remove and carve trees and branches in a potentially hazardous environment.”

Mr Farquharson said the course was contextualised to simulate real-world scenarios volunteers are likely to face.

“For example, to closely simulate a disaster scenario where a fallen tree is above a home, we placed large fallen branches across another structure and asked students to problem solve how to safely remove it,” he said.

Moruya SES volunteer Tom Samal, who spent 32 years working at Foreign Affairs and Trade before retiring to Broulee in 2016, said skills learned at the course would ensure he was better equipped in future storm emergencies.

“It was a very comprehensive course in cross-cut chainsawing and had the theory and practical side, which are both critical in our storm management area,” Mr Samal said.

“It’s given me the opportunity to put into practice my chainsaw skills and also make an assessment on how to tackle a job.”

NSW SES data has revealed severe thunderstorms, which typically peak during the spring and summer months, are the most damaging types of storms in NSW.

The NSW SES Southern Zone responded to more than 1200 (1216) storm related incidents last storm season.

The SES has more than 10,000 volunteers and provides emergency assistance to the people of NSW, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Media contact: Dan Johns, TAFE NSW Communications Specialist, 0477 722 428