Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for a project that will assess the national SES Fitness for Role program to ensure it stays up to date and reflects what SES volunteers do.
National SES Fitness for Role assessment review will help ensure the fitness tests remain relevant, credible and aligned with current SES roles across Australia.
Australia’s State Emergency Services (SES) are now two years into implementing the national minimum physical fitness for role program – the SES Physical Fitness for Role program. Learn more about the initial research here.
It is timely to revisit the original research underpinning the job task analysis and assessment design, with two primary objectives:
- To introduce a new criterion of ‘safety critical’ into determining minimum physical fitness requirements, and to identify and detail any required program changes.
- To review the national skill sets and assessment designs included in the program (with an increased priority on two of the skill sets and three of the existing assessment designs), and provide details of any required changes to the program.
Once completed, the project will ensure there is a contemporary, updated understanding of the minimum fitness requirements for members undertaking any the 13 included SES roles included in the Fitness for Role program, and ensure the validity and relevance of each of the required fitness assessments.
EOI proposals are due by 5:00pm AEDT on 21 November 2025 to research@naturalhazards.com.au.
An online webinar, scheduled for 1:00pm AEDT on 5 November 2025, will provide a more detailed briefing of the project and the opportunity for interested parties to pose specific questions. Register to attend here. Once completed, a recording of this webinar will be posted to the website to ensure all interested respondents have access to this information.
Find out more about this EOI, including how to submit, on the National SES Fitness for Role assessment review project page.