SES SHQ this year have changed funding distribution to how active the Unit is.
My guess regards USAR is that new trailers are being distributed to more Units. The tools to go in the trailers would be funded by the Unit purchase.
Ok, now this is my understanding but have a nice chat infont of me with all these figures on it.
The model that was used to work out funding is based on an average number of jobs from the last 6 years. Now most people would think this is fine, but there are a few units out there that are being screwed over this because prior management failed to submit reports or for what ever other reason SHQ only has job details for the last 2 years. Bit of a difference between the average of 6 years of jobs over 6 years and 2 years of jobs over 6 years. I know of one unit that averaged around 300 jobs each year for the last 2 that according to SHQ do an average of 60 or so jobs a year. With the new funding that 'small' difference costs between $10000 and $20000 a year of potential budget.
With the USAR side of it. 6 Units in metro/near metro have been given USAR trailers to become part of the state USAR response. Of these units 2 (Noarlunga & Sturt) are fully setup and get the extra $10510 in the budget. The other 4 wont get the $10510 until they are fully capable. Which means they must purchase the extra equipment out of the Typical units budget. Adelaide Hills for example has (at the momment) $19365 in the budget t orun everything PLUS become fully capable to get this extra $10k. Mind you to help with this, Region is helping to fund hte start up of 2 of the 4 this year, the other 2 have to use their own budgets or wait til next year.Am I the only one that finds it hard to follow!?!?!?!
As for why USAR units get $10k while RCR gets only $1500. A large part of the USAR budget goes into supplies. Unlike other types of jobs we do, most of the USAR stuff is single use. There is only so many times you can cut a bit of wood.