Daniel Austin (NSW SES Deputy Commissioner) Talks About Why Emergency Response Was Hard Until THIS Happened

In this episode, we have Daniel Austin, the Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales State Emergency Service (NSW SES), an experienced leader dedicated to reshaping how emergency responses are delivered through technology, leadership, and volunteer empowerment.

Daniel talks about the crucial role of SES volunteers as the frontline connection to their communities, their extraordinary selflessness, and why true success in emergency services means preventing crises rather than responding dramatically with lights and sirens.

He also discusses the development and impact of the "myAvailability" app, a purpose-built digital solution designed to streamline volunteer management, the necessity of continuous technological innovation driven by volunteer input, and the importance of transparent leadership during periods of significant organisational change.

If you want to learn how effective emergency response is evolving beyond reaction into proactive prevention, and gain valuable insights into empowering volunteers with practical, user-centred technology, then make sure to listen to this episode!

SHOW NOTES LINKS

https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-austin-61284262/

https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

https://www.facebook.com/NSW.SES

https://www.instagram.com/nswses/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/nswses/

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LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3VAshQD 

Apple Podcast: https://apple.co/3VCLscS 

Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/4bQIabq 

Google Podcast: https://bit.ly/3ViNRb5 

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FIND US HERE

Website: https://www.fireant.com.au/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fireant-pty-ltd/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559184241111 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FireantDigital 

TIME STAMPS:

00:00 Hook/Intro

01:26 Daniel's Role as Deputy Commissioner in NSW SES and what drives him to serve his community

03:51 What makes Volunteers such a critical part of emergency services in Australia

07:05 How and why NSW SES invested in myAvailability App

10:13 Involving volunteers in the platform, and why is it important

12:14 Launching myAvailability App

13:55 Importance of Ongoing Development

15:54 Maintaining the performance of the organisation

18:21 Innovation and Technology Change in the Volunteer Environment

23:52 Opportunities in Adopting Technology

26:10 Future Vision for NSW SES

28:20 Conclusion/Outro

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DISCLAIMER

The information provided in this podcast is for general purposes only and should not be considered personal advice. Always consult with qualified professionals or experts in the relevant field for personalised advice tailored to your specific situation.