As an imperative resource for our state’s police community, it makes sense to support the Police Veterans Victoria in return via the ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek.

Hiking the Kokoda Track in 2016 was a life changing event for Emergency Services Property Advisors founder, Luke Lawlor. Although already armed with over twenty years experience in the real estate industry, getting to know his fellow adventurers while he was completing the track really got the wheels turning, as many of them were in fact emergency service workers.

As such, he founded his business on the back of the emergency services community, as there were no other real estate advisory services operating to cater just for them. With strong ties to the Victorian police force, ambulance service and firefighting sectors, Luke actively ensures that as a business, he contributes both his time and money to ensure that the sector receives the same support that they have provided him with. 

In 2023 and with twenty other members of the emergency services sector – both retired, and currently serving –  Luke is set to tackle the Kokoda Track once more. However, this time it’s for vastly different reasons, with the end goal being to raise some much needed funds for industry charities such as Police Veterans Victoria through donations and sponsorships.

The ESPA 2023 Kokoda Charity Trek Challenge is aiming to raise $96,000 – or $1,000 per kilometre of the Kokoda Track. This new and innovative fundraising effort is a means to support institutions just like the Police Veterans Victoria – but who are they, and why are they vital to the Victorian police community?

The Role Of Police Veterans Victoria 

Police Veterans Victoria Inc is a non for profit organisation that actively supports Victoria Police Veterans and their families. As the only organisation with a dedicated focus on improving the mental health of Victoria Police Veterans and their families, the Veteran Peer Support Officers (VSPO’s) are actually veterans themselves. 

VSPO’s are trained to provide confidential phone support and referral services to Victoria Police Veterans who may be experiencing mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, post traumatic stress disorder, social isolation, alcohol or substance abuse. 

Although VSPO’s are not counsellors and don’t make psychological assessments, both their own experiences and training provide a unique support system. They also have access to a wide range of resources such as psychologists and chaplaincy services. However, Police Veterans Victoria also recognised that the loved ones and family members of serving police officers may also be impacted or traumatised too, which is why the services are also available to them as well. Needless to say, the Police Veterans community is vast, and is best summarised as follows. 

• A Member is someone who joined the Association of Police Veterans Victoria Incorporated, and has the full voting rights of a member as set out in the Rules of the Association.
• A Veteran is someone who served as a sworn member of Victoria Police for a minimum of one day of service. It includes Police and Protective Service Officers, as well as serving members who are transitioning to retirement.
• A Veteran Peer Support Officer (VPSO) is a veteran who has been appointed as a peer support officer after having satisfied the requirements of that role, including training.
• A board member is someone appointed to the Board as a Director and includes ex officio appointments.
• An Employee is someone remunerated by Police Veterans Victoria or in the case of the Clinical Adviser & Program Coordinator, an employee of Victoria Police, seconded to PVV.
• A family member includes a partner, spouse, parent, child or sibling of a police veteran.
• Associates are board members, PVV employees or family members.

The vision of Police Veterans Victoria is for all Police Veterans and their families to thrive in the days, weeks and years after their experiences working in the service. The purpose of the foundation is to provide a means and support network to ensure that this vision is achievable. 

As a not for profit organisation, Police Veterans Victoria relies heavily on sponsors and partners, with some of the more prominent contributors including Linfox, Softifel, Bank Vic and the Victoria University. Police Veterans Victoria also works directly with a number of other groups, charities and foundations designed to assist and support Victoria’s police community, such as Victoria Police Legacy, The Police Association Victoria, and the Emergency Service Foundation. 

When acting on behalf of a client, ESPA receives a fee from the real estate agent. Of this fee, 20% is then donated by the team at ESPA to an industry charity of their client’s choice. It quickly became apparent to Luke that many of his clients nominated the Victoria Police Legacy as the charity of their choice, which made it a no-brainer for him to do the same and focus on the institution as one of the primary recipients from the fundraising efforts linked to the upcoming ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek Challenge in 2023.

“While there are endless notable causes that my clients could select, it goes without saying that Police Veterans Victoria have proven to be particularly close to the hearts of emergency service workers. As Emergency Services Property Advisors, we work very closely with members of Victoria’s police force, and the connection to the community runs deep. Needless to say, I think that it’s hugely important to see that money flows back into the industry which I serve. I’ve got a long track record of working with the emergency services community for over twenty three years. They’ve always looked after me, so I’m here to look after them.” 

If you are a current or retired emergency services member that has always wanted to tick the Kokoda Track off your bucket list, there’s never been a more perfect opportunity to do so whilst supporting industry charities that give much more than they ever take back.

Emergency Services Property Advisers provide property advisor services to Police, Fire, Ambulance and S.E.S personnel and their families right across Victoria. If you are looking to get more information about the ESPA Kokoda Charity Trek, or even potentially buy or sell property in the near or distant future, please get in touch with Luke today.