VFBV

Consultation with CFA members throughout November has been active with a number of regional forums held across the state.

Feedback from member has also been provided via email, mail and CFA’s website. Contributions are still encouraged, with the deadline extended to 19 December 2014.

Member feedback has also been provided through a new online service for CFA which allows members to share their views, provide comments and join discussions online. The link is:

http://cfa.engagementhq.com/cfa-draft-volunteerism-strategy

Regional forums have been great, with a diverse range of views and ideas being shared. Some of the key themes discussed have included:

• Attracting and retaining younger members
• The importance of good leaders and great ‘people skills’ at CFA, across all levels
• Declining community understanding of volunteer brigades and shared responsibility for fire risk
• How to measure ‘success’ of the Strategy at brigade level
• The need to make sure that the Strategy is ‘more than just words’
• Valuing senior members and retaining their skills and experience
• The impact and expectations of time available for training – keep it simple
• Trusting, respecting and utilising volunteers
• The role that CFA and government can play in fighting for and investing in volunteerism
• The importance of letting local brigades serve local communities in the best way for that community
• Getting the culture of CFA right
• Working with employers – addressing declining employer support for volunteer activity
• The need for a modern approach to CFA’s brand in the community

At the end of the consultation period, outcomes will be collated and shared, and will go on to shape development of the final strategy.

The final Strategy will be presented to CFA’s board in early 2015.