Emergency services cadets / Dept. of Emergency Services.

Entrant: Pre-disaster Category, Combination Stream, Safer Communities Awards 2005.

The Emergency Services Cadet Program builds upon the success stories of the State Emergency Service (SES) Cadet Scheme, which had been teaching young people life saving skills for 10 years. The 'new-look' cadet program expanded the SES Cadet Scheme to reflect the strong partnership that now exists between the Department of Emergency Services' three operational divisions; Queensland Fire and Rescue Services (QFRS), Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Counter Disaster and Rescue Services (CDRS). As well as establishing strong links within the Department of Emergency Services, the program supports Queensland whole-of-Government strategies. The Cadet Program is a member of the Queensland Youth Alliance, and links with the Queensland Government Suicide Prevention Strategy, the Queensland Government Strategic Framework for Child Protection, Queensland Government Women in the Smart State Directions Statement, and the Queensland Government Youth Participation Strategy. The program's primary aim is to introduce Queensland's young people to different forms of emergency services training that will better equip them for community life. Approximately 800 young people in 45 regional and remote centres around Queensland are keenly learning essential skills that may one day see them save a life, or help them to assist their communities protect property and environment. Young members also learn valuable life skills and their involvement in the program provides them with positive interactions with the community and with other young people. This contributes to Queensland Government Smart State strategies for safer and more supportive communities including youth crime prevention strategies and suicide prevention strategies. In the last calendar year, the program saw 38 young members join SES groups, with seven others joining QFRS and one former member is now an Ambulance Officer.