VFBV

The 2016 Fire Awareness Awards are now open to anyone who has implemented a project or program over the last two years that helps reduce the effect of fire in Victoria. 

Projects can focus on any fire type, including structure (housing, commercial, industrial) fires, bushfires or grass fires. 

Community categories: Access and Inclusion, Community-led Prevention, Community-led Preparedness, Education, Innovation and Design, Recovery

Long-standing supporter of the awards, RACV Insurance provides a $10,000 Award for Excellence to the most outstanding project. 

Entries close 15 September 2016

For more information about the 2016 Fire Awareness Awards visit www.fireawarenessawards.com.au, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or follow via Facebook and Twitter. 

Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) is the State Convenor for the awards this year, the awards are open to local emergency projects and applications are open now.

The national awards, now in their 16^th year, recognise and promote initiatives that help make our communities safer, stronger and better prepared to manage natural disasters.

Victorian winners last year included the Violet Town CFA Red Bucket and Know Your Neighbours program, the St Andrews 2014 Fire Preparedness Calendar, the ‘Are U Ready – surviving small business disaster’ publication, Emergency Support Team – Emerald Pilot Project and the Hume Region Corrections Victoria – Emergency Response initiative.

Applications are judged at the state and territory level and winners become finalists for the national judging. There is also a photography award for photos that communicate work in disaster resilience.

Click here for full details on the Emergency Management Victoria website.

UPDATED 10 April 2015 - Answers to volunteers' questions

Download the FAQ sheet below

CFA has moved to drop the service award upgrade kits that have been in use since 2008 - volunteers reaching milestones such as 15, 20 and 25 years’ service will now receive a complete new service medal, ribbon bar and lapel badge to replace their old one.

The upgrade kits required the member to have a new bar sewn onto their existing medal ribbon, and were seen by many members as an inappropriate way to recognise such significant service to CFA and their communities. 

VFBV has been working with CFA for some time now, advocating our desire for the awarding of complete medals and not expecting members to sew on their own medal bars.  VFBV is grateful to CFA for approving this request, and agreeing to fund it, as we believe this change to be a significant improvement to the way long serving members are recognised.

This change will be automatic for all new medals awarded as of now.

For any questions or feedback, email: cfa‐This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1800 232 636.

Frequently Asked Questions (Provided by CFA)

From the 1^st May 2015, members eligible for Service Awards (including Life Members) will now receive a full award set in place of the service award upgrade kits which were introduced to CFA in 2008.

1. Will members who have their medals court mounted need to have them re-mounted every five years to incorporate the newly award medal?

No, members will not have to have their medals re-mounted. Medal mounting companies may purchase clasps for the main size medal directly from CFA at $2.00 each +GST. This would mean that the member could keep the newly presented award set in full. The medals which are mounted can then be updated with the clasp of the appropriate years of service.

Rosettes for the ribbon bars are also available for purchase at $1.10 each +GST.

2. Will members be required to return their previous medal?

No, members who have previously received CFA Service Awards or Life Member award may keep them and do not have to return them to CFA. Upgrade kits that were previously awarded will not be recalled.

3. Will other members get my second hand award set?

No, second hand award sets will not be presented to members. Each member is eligible for a new award set at each anniversary date.

4. Do members have to remove their previously awarded service medal?

Yes, Brigades are required to ensure that members remove past service awards at the presentation of the new service award. In accordance with CFA tradition, the new award/medal replaces the previous service medal. It is not appropriate to wear multiple CFA service medals at the same time.  Further information on wearing honours, please refer to the ‘How to wear Honours and Awards’ booklet which is available through Brigades Online.

File path: Brigades Online > Brigade > Service History & Awards > About the Awards

5. Will members who have previously received the upgrade kit be retrospectively awarded a full award set?

No, Members will receive the full award set at their next anniversary date from 1^st May 2015 onwards. Members are to continue to utilise the upgrade kits until they will be awarded the full award set at their next anniversary date.

The Australian Fire Service Medal recognises distinguished service by members of Australian fire services. It is awarded to paid and volunteer members. The AFSM is awarded by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the responsible minister. For CFA and the other Victorian fire services, the responsible minister is the Minister for Police and Emergency Services.

The awards are announced on Australia Day (26 January) and the Queen’s Birthday (June) of each year.  Recipients of the Australian Fire Service Medal are entitled to use the letters “AFSM” after their names to show that their outstanding service has been formally recognised.

All volunteers, auxiliary members and full-time staff of CFA are eligible for the medal.

The sole criterion for the award of the Australian Fire Service Medal is distinguished service.

Visit http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=aboutAwards for the CFA Honours & Awards Manual and the Nomination Form.

If you need assistance, contact the CFA Awards Secretariat at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or on 1800 232 636.

Victorian Young Achiever Awards

Do you know an outstanding young person making a difference in the community?          

The Victorian Young Achiever Awards acknowledge, encourage and promote the positive achievements of young Victorians. The Awards recognise the achievements of Victoria's youth (up to 28 years of age) in six categories, with one of the category winners being named the Victorian Premier's Young Achiever of the Year. (Nominate a young achiever)

The Community Service and Volunteering Award

The candidates for this award will be reviewed in several areas including:

• Length of service and commitment
• Who and how many people benefit from their dedication
• How the candidate has overcome barriers and difficulties
• Their contribution to lasting solutions and sustainability
• The winner, if not all the candidates, will be an extraordinary young person.

The other categories include:

• Leadership and innovation
• Science and technology
• Sport
• Regional achiever
• Small business achievement

Nominations close early December 2013 (nominate a young achiever) with the winners announced and recognised at a gala dinner on Friday 2 May 2014.

To learn more click here to visit the Awards Australia website 

State Government media release - Sunday 27 October 2013

The incredible contribution of Victoria's volunteers will be recognised by  a new state award, the Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award, Premier Denis  Napthine announced at a garden picnic event at Cruden Farm near  Langwarrin, today.

 Dr Napthine said the Victorian Premier’s Volunteer Awards recognise the  outstanding contribution volunteers make to the community, with the top  award named in honour of Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, who was one of Victoria's  great philanthropists.

 “Dame Elisabeth Murdoch was a generous, humble and loving benefactor. Her  life was about improving other people’s circumstances,” Dr Napthine said.

 A volunteer from Moe, Mr Darell Benjamin OAM, who has raised almost $1  million for the Royal Children's Hospital, was named as the state's first  Dame Elisabeth Murdoch Award winner at today's event.

 “Mr Benjamin is a terrific winner of the first Dame Elisabeth Murdoch  Award. He represents the genuine grass roots community volunteer who are  the heart of the soul of many local communities across the state,” Dr  Napthine said.

 Mr Benjamin, 85, has been raising money for the Royal Children’s Good  Friday Appeal since 1978. In 2004 he was awarded the Latrobe City Citizen  of the Year award and in 2008 he received an Order of Australia Medal for  his year-round fundraising efforts.

Mr Benjamin’s significant contribution to the community includes his  involvement with the Moe Lions Club and as a group leader for  intellectually, physically and mentally handicapped Boy Scouts.

As part of the award, Mr Benjamin received $10,000 for his chosen charity.

Dr Napthine also announced the members of the Awards Committee, who would  provide advice on nominations for the awards, which from 2014 will include  the following categories:

 ·        Victorian Volunteer of the Year - The Dame Elisabeth Murdoch

          Award - $10,000 to  chosen charity.

 ·        Senior Volunteer of the Year - $2,000 to their chosen charity.

 ·        Youth Volunteer of the Year - $2,000 to their chosen charity.

 ·        Regional Volunteer of the Year - $2,000 to their chosen charity.

 ·        Metropolitan Volunteer of the Year - $2,000 to their chosen

          charity.

 ·        New Resident of the Year - $2,000 to their chosen charity.

 The Awards Committee includes Mr Craig Lapsley, Fire Services Commissioner  Victoria and Board Member Volunteering Victoria, Mrs Janet Calvert-Jones,  Murdoch family member and Ms Julie Pettett, CEO of Wimmera Volunteers.

 The Committee will be chaired by The Hon Jeff Kennett AC, the Chairman of  beyondblue, which has successfully worked to improve services and change  attitudes to depression and anxiety since 2000.

 “There are about 1.5 million volunteers in Victoria who give their time  and effort to improve the lives of people in hardship. Volunteer work is  not just about helping others, it’s also about making our society a better  place for everyone,” Dr Napthine said.

 More than 100 volunteers from charity organisations across Victoria  attended the event at the beautiful garden setting of Dame Elisabeth  Murdoch’s home.

The much anticipated CFA Honours and Awards poster and manual became available early in 2013.

They were a working collaboration between CFA and VFBV, and have brought surety and transparency to the Honours and Awards system.

The manual offers details of the criteria for awarding a variety of Honours and Awards, with categories including  Bravery and Valour, Distinguished Service, Long Service and Notable Awards.

You can download the Manual and Wall Poster below.