VFBV

We are tens of thousands of Victorians, committed to protecting lives and property.

We are skilled, determined and here to serve Victorians now and into the future.

We are from the community and for the community.

We are CFA.

Watch the 'Our Community, our CFA' video here.

Watch the short video to gain an appreciation and understanding of Victoria's iconic CFA, one of the largest and most professional volunteer emergency services in the world. Excerpts from the video journey are displayed below to help you reflect on the incredible fire service built by volunteers with selfless grit and determination to benefit their communities and the Victorian public.

	We are determined
	We are community focused
	We are trusted and reliable
	We draw strength through diversity
	Are made up of more than 50,000 committed members
	Across 1,217 volunteer fire brigades
	Proudly serving over 4 Million Victorians
	Representing Victorian Spirit from every corner of the State
	We respond to bushfires
	...and house fires
	We provide community education both before, during and after emergencies
	We provide road crash rescue
	And respond to more than 33,000 incidents every year
	We respond wherever we're needed
	We assist communities prepare for emergencies
	Across more than 224,000 squared kilometers of Victoria
	We are highly trained
	We use research and evidence to guide our decision making
	We provide valuable local knowledge before, during and after emergencies
	We are experienced across all landscapes
	We have broad and diverse skill sets
	And have flexible and inclusive roles to encourage diversity of skills, people, thought and gender
	We are born from the communities we serve providing strong community roots
	We are focused on prevention...
	...that stretches far beyond just initial emergency response
	CFA has been operating for more than 75 years and volunteer fire brigades existed well before that
	We have stood by our communities through Victoria's darkest days
	We have evolved over time with our communities
	We are a progressive emergency service
	Adapting to changing climates and new threats
	We are ready for the future and our next chapter as a proud fully volunteer fire service
	Our people...
	...are what makes...
	...CFA what it is today
	Our Community. Our CFA

Are they really ok? 
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer

R U OK? Day falls on the 9th of September this year. This year’s message is ‘Are they really OK? Ask them today.’

R U OK? is a national suicide prevention initiative that encourages Australians to connect with people in the community, your colleagues, friends, family, and loved ones – encouraging them to generate constructive discussion about issues such as suicide, depression, isolation and mental illness.

The aim is to encourage people to stay connected and have meaningful conversations that can help others through difficult times in their lives.

The R U OK? charity has some terrific resources to help equip you for those conversations, and some coaching to help get you ready to have a conversation which could literally change someone’s life.

Available from www.ruok.org.au resources walk you through four easy steps of; ask; listen; encourage action; and check in. There are webinars and role plays to help you, and a really important section in the ‘How to Ask’ area that can help you get ready. Questions such as if you are ready to ask, are you prepared for where the conversation may go and how best to pick your moment and environment.

Remember, that all members including your immediate family members have free access to CFA’s wellbeing and welfare services 24 hours day, 7 days a week. You can access these via 1800 959 232 or via www.cfa.vic.gov.au/wellbeing 

This year’s R U OK? day is a great reminder of the incredible power each of you have to make a real difference in someone else’s life. You don’t need to make a big song and dance about it, but if you have noticed someone in your life who might be experiencing some personal difficulties or is struggling with life’s current uncertainties (COVID-19 isolation for example) your genuine support and compassion can have a huge influence. Use R U OK? day to remind ourselves not to wait until someone is visibly distressed or in crisis before we act and check-in.

VACCINES

We are receiving some enquiries asking whether VFBV is pursuing mandatory vaccination for CFA members. At this stage, while we are not pursuing mandatory vaccination, we are very supportive of encouraging members to be vaccinated as soon as possible.

Early discussions at Board and State level have indicated it is still too early to consider mandating. The looming fire season remains our focus, with national vaccination targets providing a good baseline and aspirational target for this year. Ensuring all members who want a vaccine have adequate opportunity to receive it remains the best strategy to drive the numbers up.

VFBV was at the forefront of vaccine advocacy, leading the charge for the inclusion of all emergency management volunteers under priority 1B of the national vaccination roll-out plan. And while we have had access to Priority 1B vaccinations since the 22nd March 2021, not everyone has had the same access and opportunity. Early vaccination hubs were predominately only available in metro areas while vaccine supply has only markedly improved over recent times.

In essence, CFA is an essential service whose sole role and purpose is to protect lives and property. Therefore, any discussions that start excluding people or creating artificial barriers that have the potential to impact on our essential service delivery to our communities is not something to take lightly. It deserves deep thought and analysis and respect for the complex policy setting that such decisions exist within.

CFA is also not an island. We work alongside many other partner agencies on the fireground, meaning we must adopt a sector wide approach.

Philosophically, we also need to consider whether it is the role of organisations, agencies or private enterprise for that matter to be stepping into the health space and introducing what amounts to potentially a significant incursion into the right of people to withhold consent for something affecting their bodies.

This isn’t an anti-vax position. In fact, for context - I’ve been fully vaccinated for many months now, and by the time you read this the entire VFBV Board is also fully vaccinated. But there is a big difference between encouraging vaccination vs mandating it.

CFA is the largest emergency service in Victoria. We are a broad and diverse organisation. We have room to always strive to be as inclusive as possible. There may well be a time when mandatory vaccination is well supported, and our public health bodies make the recommendation like what is happening in high-risk sectors such as health. But the place for those decisions is squarely within the institutions of our parliamentary democracy with appropriate checks and balances in place, including judicial review and oversight.

There may very well be some activities where vaccination is going to be preferred.

For example, there have already been recent occasions where residents have requested smoke detector installation by fully vaccinated members due to the resident having some underlying health concerns. And where we can - we should respect these requests.

It is also likely we will see some preferences emerge for vaccinated members for some activities like cross border and other potential higher-risk settings.

We should also not ignore other tools such as rapid antigen testing, air monitoring, and pre health screening activities that are already in use right now across the world where our northern hemisphere agencies are already well advanced in their summer fire seasons and dealing with much larger outbreaks.

I acknowledge some of these discussions are already occurring. A fellow volunteer remarked to me recently that they would only be going on a strike team if every single other member on the strike team was fully vaccinated. I’m sure this position is shared by many.

The question is - what if it was your community on fire or under threat and we couldn’t send enough fire trucks because we were standing around figuring out who should and shouldn’t attend? With recent drops in volunteer numbers, extended fire seasons and increased requests for mutual aid, we need to think very carefully about anything that reduces our response capacity.

Emergency response activities have not been super spreader activities to date. In fact, in all settings where there are strict COVID safety protocols, proper use and discipline of wearing PPC, physical distancing and proper hygiene controls – these have all proven very effective. Our brothers and sisters in Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria are dealing with thousands more occasions where they are interacting with potential cases every day. I say this not to understate the risks, but rather put them into perspective. As far as fire brigade activities are concerned, you’re more likely to be involved in a road accident on your way to the call than catching COVID-19. Our policy response needs to be proportionate to the risk.

I guess what I am trying to say is there are already enough things that try to pit us against each other without having to add to the list. It is a very 2020 type notion that these days people are either only ‘for’ or ‘against’ things. Public discourse and debate seem to be led by what can fit on a meme or in a 140 character insult, with victory deemed to the ‘loudest’.

Let’s respect the inherent complexity of the issue and commit to some genuine and robust discussion and dialog to help inform our views. Please use your brigades and District Councils to start the discussions so we can understand the pros and cons.

I would urge people not to try and hastily reach consensus or positions, but rather encourage participatory discussions where we can learn from one another. Conversations that promote divergent thoughts and thinking, allowing alternate views to be respectfully considered, and genuine informed discussion that respects and acknowledges the broad diversity of thought amongst the membership.

Having said all that I would ask that all members please seriously consider being vaccinated. If you are unsure or have concerns or family histories that make vaccination high-risk, they are all legitimate concerns. Informed consent is just that. Informed.

And with the greatest of respect - social media or the internet is not always the best source of reliable and factual advice, so if you are hesitating - please discuss your individual circumstance with your doctor. And for those waiting for something better - the best vaccine is likely the one you have access to today.

To those who are vaccinated, please be kind and respectful to those who may not be. Vaccination is a very personal decision. You won’t change minds by simply insulting people or driving them away.

The strength of VFBV is the willingness of members and delegates to challenge, be inclusive, inspire, and pioneer new ways of doing things - all the while maintaining our compassion and empathy.

This month I have chosen two quotes fitting of this month’s discussion. The first from Franklin D. Roosevelt, and the second by Eleanor Roosevelt.

FDR is the only US President to have served more than two terms, having been elected four times and serving as President between 1933 and 1945, encompassing the Great Depression and World War II.

Eleanor served as First Lady to FDR, but earned the tribute ‘First Lady of the World’ by President Truman in recognition of her work as a diplomat to the United Nations and her human rights achievements.

“Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

“Great minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss events. Small minds discuss people.” Eleanor Roosevelt

Postponement of AGM
After reviewing the current Victorian Health Guidelines, the Australian National Plan to Transition National COVID Response and advice from Consumer Affairs Victoria, the VFBV Board have authorised a three-month extension and postponed this year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) to December 2021.

Planning has commenced to hold this year’s AGM to coincide with the December State Council meeting, currently scheduled for Sunday 5th December 2021. Further details of arrangements will be provided closer to the date.

The Board has also endorsed and approved State Council’s recommendation that all Board, State Council and Welfare Fund office holder’s terms that were due to expire in October 2021, will be extended through to December 2021.

Quarterly Supplement

Included with the September 2021 edition of Fire Wise was the eighth edition of the VFBV Quarterly Supplement.

The Quarterly Supplement contains 16 pages of relevant news, updates and information on current issues being pursed by VFBV on behalf of members. It also includes links to additional resources or updates that are available via our website.

An electronic copy of the Quarterly Supplement can be downloaded here. 

Brigade Captains and Secretaries, Group Officers and Group Secretaries as well as VFBV delegates are requested to please take the time to read this and future editions, and to table at your upcoming meetings for the benefit and knowledge of your members.

Survey pre-registration
This year’s VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey is about to open. Volunteers can pre-register now to ensure you are amongst the first to be notified of this year’s survey.

Register here or via the QR code below.

Structural training concerns
VFBV continues to receive communications from Brigades expressing concerns that access to structure firefighting courses is increasingly difficult with CFA not running enough courses to meet demand.

VFBV continues to raise this directly with CFA, sighting many reasons why this training is so important to Brigades and the safety of all members. CFA has reported that course and training planning/ delivery is the responsibility of individual Districts with ACFO’s being accountable for these activities.

We encourage brigades who are having issues with training plans or course scheduling to speak directly to your Districts in the first instance and escalate through your VFBV District Councils where required.

VFBV will continue to advocate for structural training availability to be increased in line with brigade expectations and will support any brigade requiring assistance with escalation.

Essential training
All members are reminded that core operational training and skills maintenance is classified as an essential activity for the purposes of CFA COVID Response level 2.

Training must be conducted in a COVID safe manner and must satisfy the requirement that it is core to maintaining operational capability.

There is automatic approval for activities required to meet the CFA Chief Officer’s pre summer requirements and brigades should continue to use the adapted burn-over drill procedures that were introduced to apply physical distancing so the drill can be conducted safely within COVID safe protocols.

All formal skill acquisition courses and assessment are to be approved by the ACFO with essential training continuing to be available except in those areas operating under a COVID Response level 3.

Brigades are encouraged to discuss their requirements with their ACFO and consider modifying training activities to small groups on alternating days of the week to avoid large gatherings.

Training must be completed prior to curfew in metro areas operating under a curfew. Online resources are available to assist with blended learning.

VFBV District Councils are available to assist with any brigade that believes that their essential training request has been inappropriately denied.

Joint Committee EOI
Expressions of interest are now open for volunteers to nominate as subject matter experts to the VFBV/CFA Joint Committee’s for the 2022 calendar year.

If you feel you can contribute and have the time, are passionate about one of the seven streams and want to be an integral part of our Joint Committee process – then please talk to your local VFBV State Councillor or VFBV Support Officer for a nomination form.

Nominations are due to your District Council early November 2021.

AFSM Nominations
Nominations for the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours list are now open.

The award recognises those whose service is above and beyond the normal zealous and faithful discharge of normal or ordinary service, either in the short or long term. While volunteers are often modest and reluctant to seek out recognition for their exceptional contributions protecting lives and property, nominating a fellow volunteer to recognise their contribution is a way to say ‘thank you’ to those people who have stepped up and helped to inspire other volunteers.

A helpful guide to preparing nominations is available from the VFBV and CFA websites.

Nominations need to be submitted to CFA by 1 November 2021.

 
COVID-19 Resources
Available from the VFBV website is a COVID-19 financial support resources article. This article has been updated recently to ensure that the resources listed are all up to date.

A reminder also that CFA provides a lot of resources for brigades, groups and volunteers on the CFA Members website (Brigades Online). CFA’s resources include the current response levels and also links to the latest updates from CFA.

Recent articles of the VFBV website
AFSM nominations 

COVID-19 financial support resources 

Enjoying the VFBV monthly newsletter
If you enjoy reading the VFBV newsletter each month, why not share it with your fellow volunteers?

Either share this page with others who may enjoy the articles or encourage other volunteers to sign up to receive their own copy via email each month here.

CFA is currently accepting and encouraging nominations for the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours list.

The AFSM is a prestigious award that honours the distinguished service of members of fire services, including CFA volunteers who make an exceptionable contribution to their communities. The award recognises those whose service is above and beyond the normal zealous and faithful discharge of normal or ordinary service, either in the short or long term.

While volunteers are often modest and reluctant to seek out recognition for their exceptional contributions protecting lives and property, nominating a fellow volunteer to recognise this contribution is a way to say ‘thank you’ to those people who have stepped up and helped to inspire other volunteers.

Anyone can put forward an application for someone they think deserves to be honoured. It is however critically important that nominations are encouraged from groups who are typically underrepresented in Australian Honours including the AFSM. Nominations are particularly encouraged for potential awardee’s from non-English speaking backgrounds, people with disabilities and particularly women who are underrepresented in being honoured with an AFSM. There are many exceptional CFA volunteers who deserve to be recognised.

It is important to remember that the AFSM is not a long-service award, its sole criterion is distinguished service. Distinguished service includes service that is above and beyond and can either be short-term or prolonged. While prolonged service forms part of the key criteria, ‘prolonged’ is considered by the honours and awards committee’s to be taken in context as to what is considered ‘longer than usual’ and in context of what is ‘above and beyond’ the normal or ordinary service expected.

While it can seem daunting to nominate a potential recipient, some guiding principles that could assist in completing a nomination for an AFSM are:

- In what role(s) has the nominee excelled?
- How has the nominee demonstrated service worthy of recognition?
- How has the nominee’s contribution affected a particular field, locality, brigade, group or the community at large?
- Over what period has the nominee made a major commitment?
- Has the nominee’s contribution been recognised elsewhere?
- What makes this person stand out from others?
- What specific examples can be provided to show how the nominee’s contribution(s) have been outstanding?

Nominations for CFA members for the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours list should be submitted to CFA by 1 November 2021, the person being nominated should not be advised of the potential nomination at any stage and all information should be gathered from other sources.

CFA calls for applications twice a year for the AFSM, therefore it is also worthwhile considering additional nominations for future awards and to start preparing nominations now in order to be prepared.

CFA Resources

Guide to preparing nominations for the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) 

AFSM nomination form (please note that this form has been updated recently by EMV so all applications should be submitted using the new form) 

If you want to discuss a potential nomination or need additional information, contact CFA’s Awards and Recognition Officer, Belinda Gillespie This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 9262 8842.

Criteria for the Australian Fire Service Medal

To be considered for this award it would be expected that the nominee has given service beyond the norm exemplified by:

1. Prolonged service distinguished by exceptional performance in a particular area that has proved significant benefit to the fire service; and one or more of the following:

2. Responsibility for and management of an outstanding/exceptional event that has proven to be of significant benefit to the fire service, a community or community safety generally.

3. Development of a new system, or procedure, or technique that is unique and has made a significant contribution to the fire service, a community or community safety generally.

4. Outstanding leadership in the encouragement and development of others, particularly youth, within the fire service and the fostering and furthering of the aims of the fire service to the long-term benefit of the fire service and the community.

5. Demonstrated creativity in the development and implementation of innovative changes that have made a significant contribution to the fire service, fire/emergency operations, or the interests of community safety.

Resilience and unity of purpose
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer

On day of writing, Victoria has just entered lockdown #6. I don’t want to dwell on the unavoidable impacts they have not just on people’s livelihoods but also their mental state, other than to say I want to acknowledge the many, many thousands of community members doing it tough. Both here in Victoria and elsewhere across Australia.

Volunteer fire brigades right across the country are drawn from the very same communities we protect and are therefore intrinsically linked. When the community is going through a hard time, this often washes through our brigades.

I want to acknowledge how hard it can be to be positive with so much uncertainty around.

I repeat my message that one of the great challenges through the pandemic has been how to best maintain the social and support structures that are embedded across our network of 1,217 community fire brigades. I want to acknowledge and congratulate the innovative ways brigades are coming up with to best maintain those links and keep members as connected as can be - in new COVIDSafe ways. While frustrating and far from ideal – the resilience on display across our network of brigades and amongst our members continues to inspire.

Please don’t lose sight of the fact that your local brigade is acting as a beacon of light to many within your communities. You are setting the tone, modelling calm, professional and stable leadership, civic duty and proving that our service delivery level commitment to our communities remains steadfast and can withstand the greatest of pressures. You are there when they need you and you are doing the best you can to support your communities through these challenging times.

Despite some close shaves, brigades that have been impacted by ongoing Tier 1 and Tier 2 exposure sites and close contacts over the months have used redundancies and neighbouring brigade/group relationships to ensure members can safely isolate, while ensuring brigade coverage and operation is maintained.

The true resilience and strength of community embedded fire brigades has been on full display. You have maintained an exceptional record, and while we are not yet through it, you have every right to be exceptionally proud.

Please remember that the full impacts of this pandemic impact on each of us in very different ways, and often at different times. If you are struggling, or know someone who needs help, please utilise the wellbeing and welfare services available to all CFA members and their immediate families 24 hours day, 7 days a week. You can access these via 1800 959 232 or via www.cfa.vic.gov.au/wellbeing   

Financial support resources are also available from the VFBV website, which provides some quick links to both State and Federal support, including details of our Welfare Fund. A reminder that this year’s Welfare Fund subscription is being offered at a one-off 50% discount and brigade membership covers the entire brigade, all its members and even any ex-members who have served 20 years or more.

CFA RESTRUCTURE

On 2 August, CFA’s new refreshed organisational structure became effective, with interim executives in place while permanent recruitment is underway.

I want to congratulate CFA CEO Natalie MacDonald and Chief Officer Jason Heffernan on their commitment to seeking feedback and input from both volunteers and staff during their restructure, and most importantly sharing how that feedback was used and taken into account in final decisions. This represents a refreshing commitment to genuine and robust dialog and consultation.

Both Natalie and Jason have acknowledged that transition to the new structure is not a one-off event and there is still much work to progress. I also want to acknowledge that restructures can be challenging, especially for those staff directly impacted by reporting line changes etc. and I would ask members to please show some empathy and patience while individuals work through any changes that directly impact upon those people.

As volunteers, we have seen more than our fair share of change over recent times. And unlike this change, it has often been thrust upon us, with no opportunity to be involved or consulted. So I would ask you to please draw on those experiences as a reminder to be kind and patient to anyone who may be struggling with some of the unintended uncertainty that restructures sometimes create.

One of the largest changes to the structure is a renewed focus on ensuring service delivery decisions and leadership is provided at lower levels and those closest to the ground are empowered to lead. In other words – decisions impacting upon brigades and groups being predominately managed at the regional and district level – rather than at HQ level.

In many ways – this decentralisation logic is well supported by results from the VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency survey. It is clear from our survey, that typically the closer an “issue” is managed to volunteers – generally the more satisfied they are with the results. For example, on consultation, volunteer satisfaction with consultation at the brigade level records the highest satisfaction, with a large jump in dissatisfaction when asked about consultation at the Region/ District level, and then an even larger jump again in dissatisfaction with consultation at the HQ level.

This in essence is why VFBV is designed by structure to empower our local District Councils as the local face of the VFBV network. Local brigades, groups and delegates all working together to solve issues of mutual interest, with clear and formalised escalation pathways to deal with those issues unable to be resolved at the local level.

This is both our strength and curse.

Strength – in that it is one of the most effective ways to resolve issues, with most issues being sorted at the local level first. It can however be a curse. If it’s done well, it is likely you will never hear about most of the successes. Similarly, for those involved in the escalation process its often not particularly pleasant. A biproduct of the escalation process and structure means those at the higher levels of the structure (think Board and State Council) are often left with just the hardest and more difficult issues that no-one else has been able to solve. Often times these people are left to resolve some very difficult and complex issues, often exacerbated by a lack of consensus from the membership on preferred approaches. Let’s be honest - if they were easy – they would have been solved long ago by now.

Hence why you will hear me frequently paying homage to those volunteers who choose to serve at senior levels at either District Council, State Council or the Board. These members work day and night, often with very little thanks to try and resolve issues of critical importance to our volunteers. VFBV officials are usually the first-person people go to with a problem or criticism, yet they are often the last people to hear a compliment, thank you, or praise.

On the flip side, when changes are made, when good outcomes are finally realised or achieved, there is much personal pride and satisfaction drawn from knowing that if it weren’t for the hard work done behind the scenes by your officials and representatives – it would not have happened.

It’s the nature of the work, and why I respect our senior officials as much as I do, and why you should too. It can be thankless and unrewarding at times, but each person is driven by a pure and noble duty and dedication to wanting to improve arrangements for volunteers and ensure our communities are well supported and resourced to deliver a safe and effective community embedded emergency service.

The new CFA structure and focus on regional/district accountability will bring a renewed focus on consultation at the region/district level. Without careful planning, systems and processes this renewed decentralisation has the potential to feed the old beast of state-wide inconsistency and promote little fiefdoms.

We are all going to have work incredibly hard to ensure our systems and processes adapt to cater for stronger, more robust, flexible and transparent consultation occurring at the Region/District level. For our District Councils, this will mean an increased workload in local issue resolution and building productive and effective relationships with local management.

The good news, as I reported last year was I have been very encouraged to see some of the Deputy Chief Officer Regions (now called Deputy Chief Officer – Service Delivery) working hard to form structured and formalised regular meetings with their District Council Executive members and State Councillors to ensure regular dialog between the District Council and management and provide a robust mechanism to resolve issues raised by brigades and groups in a timely manner. This will now need to extend to District management, and my expectation will be to see a proactive approach taken by local management to engage with their local volunteer leadership groups, including our District Council executives.

For the wider membership, these changes will also bring an increased emphasis on helping us gather evidence to demonstrate issues of concern to try and assist with local discussions to resolve issues.

I too am working hard with Natalie and Jason to ensure we have some strengthened state level processes to help monitor consistency and equity between approaches, and am also optimistic that there are enough ‘wise heads’ across the CFA executive at both state and regional level that share a healthy respect and appreciation for the importance of genuine engagement and consultation with volunteers.

The restructure is one of the most noticeable early examples of the pivot back towards a community and volunteer focussed organisation. But its success or otherwise is just as much in volunteer hands as it is in managements.

For it to work will require commitment from all sides, and I would encourage members to embrace the change as an opportunity to return to the era of more genuine and responsive engagement and participation in the leadership of one of Victoria’s most trusted and respected services, our CFA.

It is a known fact that peer groups (like volunteer associations) who have strong shared goals are more likely to prioritise group needs over individual self-interest. It breeds better cooperation and collaboration and is strongly associated with feelings of belonging, solidarity and trust.

There is a fitting quote attributed to Bill Bradley, an American author, NBA basketballer, US Senator and US Airforce Reservist.

“Respect your fellow human being, treat them fairly, disagree with them honestly, enjoy their friendship, explore your thoughts about one another candidly, work together for a common goal and help one another achieve it. No destructive lies. No ridiculous fears. No debilitating anger.”

I will finish this month by again encouraging you to engage with your District Council, engage with your local representatives and be part of the change. We still have plenty of land mines to avoid and step over, but our greatest strength comes from our unity of purpose. Please don’t just use your District Council as a complaints box. We are at our best not only when we are working together to resolve issues of concern, but also when we are working together to pursue shared goals, aspirations and our vision for a Safer Victoria.

2021/22 Affiliations
Congratulations to the winners of the 2021/22 VFBV Affiliation Prize Draw!

Thank you to all Brigades and Groups who have paid their 2021/22 affiliations prior to 30th June this year thus making themselves eligible for the 2021/22 VFBV Affiliation Prize Draw.

We are pleased to announce the prize winners are:
1st – Welshpool Fire Brigade;
2nd – Yallourn North Fire Brigade;
3rd – Foster Fire Brigade;
4th – Tarwin Lower Fire Brigade;
5th – Woodford Fire Brigade;
6th – Boneo Fire Brigade.

The wining brigades are currently being notified and will choose in order of place drawing from the following prizes kindly donated by GAAM - G-Force Nozzle with Quick connect coupling; Gated Wye with Stortz Inlet and quick connect outlets; Root Soaker; TFT Break Apart Nozzle; or from Powdersafe - five Helmet Torches and carry case; or donated by CFA six Uniden Digital Scanners.

The number of Brigades affiliating with VFBV for 2021/22 is on track to match record numbers of past 5 years, a sign of continued strong support for VFBV’s work on behalf of all CFA volunteers.

We understand that COVID-19 restrictions are impacting when brigades can meet. If you are not sure whether your Brigade or Group’s VFBV affiliation and Brigade’s VFBV Welfare Fund subscription are up-to-date, please contact your Secretary urgently, as we encourage all those who have not yet affiliated to do so as soon as possible.

For any enquiries, contact your VFBV Support Officer, State Councillor’s or call us on (03) 9886 1141.

CFA Regulations Updated – Provisional Payments
VFBV is pleased to advise that the Country Fire Authority Regulations 2014 were updated on the 20th July 2021 to reflect the Government’s new ‘Provisional Payments’ for mental health compensation claims being incorporated into CFA volunteer compensation.

As previously reported in the February newsletter, there was good engagement established with VFBV early in the pilot with former Minister for Workplace Safety, the Hon. Jill Hennessy MP engaging with us early and encouraging our participation on the pilots steering group. VFBV was represented on the Governments Pilot Steering Committee by CEO Adam Barnett who reported good progress with wide collaboration between the agencies, departments and stakeholders involved.

Provisional payments enable Victoria's eligible volunteers and workers to access provisional payments for reasonable treatment and services for work-related/CFA related mental injuries, while their compensation claim(s) are being determined. When claims are rejected, workers and volunteers can continue to receive provisional payments for up to 13 weeks. The intent is to enable eligible volunteers and workers who suffer from a work/CFA-related mental injury to access early treatment and support while they await the outcome of their claim.

The Workplace Injury Rehabilitation and Compensation Amendment (Provisional Payments) Act 2021 came into effect on the 1 July 2021. Because CFA volunteers are not covered under WorkSafe but rather though CFA volunteer compensation, the CFA Regulations were required to be updated to mirror the arrangements for CFA volunteers. VFBV has worked with Government, EMV and CFA to ensure the regulations reflect the intent of the new provisional payments scheme. Regulations 79 and 86 have been updated, and a new Regulation 86A inserted to specifically cover interim payments.

While the Regulations were not updated until 20 July, the regulations contain a provision to apply to compensation claims made on or after 1 July 2021, ensuring there is no gap in entitlements for CFA volunteers.

VFBV commends this outcome to members. It delivers on our advocacy and commitment that CFA volunteers should be equally protected.

Position Vacant
VFBV is seeking to appoint a VFBV Support Officer to work in regional Victoria with VFBV District Councils, Brigades and volunteers to facilitate consultation, issues resolution and volunteer engagement.

The position is a state role, with emphasis and focus on providing support throughout CFA’s South West region (CFA Districts 4, 5, 6, and 7).

This is an existing position, with the incumbent moving to another Region.

In addition to relevant skills and experience, candidates will need to understand CFA and volunteerism, be good listeners; be able to facilitate good consultation; ability to establish productive networks; navigate through complex issues resolution; be self-starters and have a passion to improve arrangements that benefit the welfare and efficiency of CFA volunteers.

Extensive regional Victorian work travel is envisaged and flexible work base locations will be considered for the position, with the priority focus to assign a work location within the CFA South West Region.

Flexible working arrangements, to cater for extensive evening and weekend work, will be tailored to match the needs of our volunteer membership base.

This is a full-time position.

Prior to applying you should familiarise yourself with the Position Description which is available from the VFBV office or website.

Applications close Tuesday 31 August 2021.

Central Highlands
VFBV would like to sincerely thank all those that took the time to submit nominations for the road naming network at CFA’s new Training Ground - Central Highlands Training Ground in Ballan. VFBV coordinated the nomination process on behalf of CFA, referring all nominations for further consideration by the CFA Executive. CFA has recently confirmed that 10 nominated persons have been selected from the list to have roads named after them at Central Highlands Training Ground. CFA and VFBV are now going through the process of confirming acceptance of nominations with members and families prior to the official opening of the Training Campus.

Victoria State Emergency Service
VFBV stands in solidarity with our colleagues and fellow volunteers from VicSES.

We firmly reject any suggestion by the UFU in recent media reports concerning SES responses to Road Accident Rescue that calls into question the professionalism of any of Victoria’s emergency management volunteers. VFBV joins the Victorian SES Volunteer Association to express our support and commitment to fostering positive and cooperative relationships across the whole emergency management sector. There are well established interagency processes to raise issues of concern that ensure discussions are evidence based and documented. We note the strong VicSES agency response denying any of the alleged conduct occurred.

As the CFA volunteer peak body - we recognise and respect the incredible professionalism, dedication and skill of all emergency service workers, both paid and un-paid and how critical it is that we all work together as one, for the safety of our communities.

To VicSES volunteers, rest assured that we respect what you do and commend your high quality skills and selfless dedication to giving back to your communities and making a positive difference. Your actions during the recent storms and floods were inspiring and reminds us of how critical each and every one of you are to public safety. Thank-you and well done.

Tree Hazard Awareness
VFBV representatives were recently consulted on and provided valuable feedback on an updated Tree Hazard Awareness digital learning package which has been reviewed to include recommendations from AFAC to standardise the hazardous tree markings across the sector.

Volunteer delegates to the Joint Training Committee have urged CFA to ensure that broader communication regarding the changes and the updated Tree Hazard Awareness course are released as soon as possible to ensure all members have reasonable time and opportunity to become familiar with the new markings and complete the training if required prior to the Fire Danger Period. This includes clarification to the current 3 years expiry on Tree Hazard Awareness and any corresponding operations bulletins or safety alerts that may be released as part of the review.

Fire Wise – August 2021 online only edition
The August 2021 edition of Fire Wise has been published online only, this edition and past editions are available from the Fire Wise website. 

You can support Fire Wise and the role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a Fire Wise subscriber visit the Fire Wise website or contact the Managing Editor of Fire Wise, Gordon Rippon-King either by phone 0402 051 412 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   

 
CFA Communications Survey

CFA have issued communications about their 2021 member Communication Survey. The survey is designed to understand what communications platforms you use to follow CFA updates, and how effective the various mediums are. This is a good opportunity for you to provide feedback and influence how CFA communicates with you and how often. Visit https://yoursay.cfa.vic.gov.au/member-communications to take the survey now. It takes approximately 10 minutes and closes at Midnight on Monday 16 August.

COVID-19 Resources

Available from the VFBV website is a COVID-19 financial support resources article. This article has been updated recently to ensure that the resources listed are all up to date.  A reminder also that CFA provides a lot of resources for brigades, groups and volunteers on CFA Members website (Brigades Online). CFA's resources include the current response levels and also links to the latest updates from CFA.

 Recent articles on the VFBV website 

Position Vacant - VFBV Support Officer (South West)

2021 Flood and Storm Recovery Resources

 
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