The SES has two initiatives to be aware of today.  

The first is a meeting tonight that will provide information and consult the community on how Lismore should be labelled. 

The second concerns youth internships available in Lismore and Woodburn that high schoolers can get involved in starting next week.

Scott McLennan, the local SES Incident Controller, will be joined tonight by Janet and Jo to discuss, “preparedness and going into detail of the warning system.”

An important aspect of the meeting will be the naming of things, “There are some things that we'd like some collaboration on with the community - how to name our products better. One of those, “outside the levy in Lismore” is not the best name, but we need to pick a name for that particular part of the community.

“We can also have a conversation more about the Youth Internship Program that begins next week.”

That will take place tonight at the South Lismore Bowling Club from 5.30pm to 7.30pm.

The SES Youth Internship program has run successfully in areas around Lismore, but this is the first time that it has been offered here and in Woodburn.

The internship runs throughout the fourth term. Mr McLennan says, “Lismore and Woodburn will join the program along with six other units around the state. A total of 126 students are expected to participate from over 25 schools. 

“The Youth Internship Program is designed for 14 to 16-year-olds to help gain skills and knowledge of emergency services and experience a range of different skills to help build their knowledge and skills. 

“Some of those topics that we cover are teamwork, leadership, first aid, communications, land search, storm and flood awareness, tool safety and how to tie knots.

“We also look at working with other professional organisations depending on where they are. We will work with New South Wales Police, the RFS, New South Wales Ambulance and Fire and Rescue.”

The internship program began last year, and another program ran last term with 58 students from 15 schools.

It will run for eight to ten weeks, depending on the place and schools affiliated. The program runs at the local SES shed - either Woodburn or Lismore. Contact the pertinent SES unit to sign up.  

It starts next week, but this is something the SES units want to run regularly, so ask for more details in your area. Ballina and Casino have been running the program with success and are big advocates.

The Woodburn SES holds its weekly meeting on Thursday nights, so if you would like more information on the program, you can attend tonight.  

They are accepting Year 9 and 10 students, and the training will be between 4 and 6pm on Wednesday afternoons.

Lismore City SES are accepting 14 to 16-year-olds, and their program will run on a Tuesday night from 6 to 8pm.

Contact the Woodburn and Lismore City SES on their Facebook pages to enquire further or to sign up.