The Combined Emergency Services Seminar Committee Inc. (CESSCI) is a voluntary Committee representing Victoria's Emergency and Support agencies. It has presented an annual seminar for the past 30 or so years, on a theme or topic that incorporates and involves input from the many agencies involved in emergency management.

The annual seminars have national recognition and representatives from all States and Territories attend. There is no doubt that Victoria is the lead State in emergency management but there is a tendency for complacency, particularly due to the infrequency of major emergencies.

The Committee consists of members, both retired and currently serving, who have had many years experience in Emergency Management. The Committee is of the opinion that due to this infrequency, Victoria is not prepared as well as we should be. This we hasten to add is no reflection on any agency but there is a perceived lack of interagency and coordinated training of the many services required during a major emergency. The seminars hope to address some of these inadequacies.

The Committee has the support of all 'Heads of Agency' and of the State Government from whom we receive some funding to help defray some of the costs with hosting the seminar; this also includes the support of our Sponsors. As many of the attendees are from Voluntary Agencies, the Committee is also well aware of the budgetary constraints on all the agencies but we do ask for your support for these annual seminars and encouragement for a member involved in Emergency Management at all levels to attend.

The members of the Combined Emergency Service Seminar Committee are members of Emergency Services, who, perceiving a need to foster better relationships between agencies developed the seminars.

To this end we have been very successful, and have extended our aims to develop improved co-operation and goodwill between agencies, thus ensuring Victoria has cohesive and effective management arrangements in place.