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SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT OUR VOLUNTEER BASED CFA
- DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS/COMMENTS: 12 SEPTEMBER
The proposed Federal legislation to protect the volunteer based CFA and other volunteer based emergency services from industrial interference is now being examined by a Senate Committee.
The Senate Committee is encouraging volunteers to send in submissions/comments by 12 September 2016 – send them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (see the message from the Senate Committee below)
Submissions can be a simple email to show your support, or a detailed submission on what’s at stake and why the legislation is so important.
The Senate Committee will recommend whether Parliament should support the legislation or not.
There is more information below, or see the VFBV website item on the Federal Government’s Volunteer Protection Amendments to the Fair Work Act.
See below for the Senate Committee’s invitation to volunteers.
MORE INFORMATION
Click here for our 22 August Update to Members, which explains the volunteers’ concerns and the need for the Federal legislation. (if the Click Here link doesn’t work, see below)
The proposed Federal legislation would make a simple change to the Fair Work Act, making it objectionable for workplace agreements to restrict or limit the emergency service organisation’s (in our case CFA) ability to:
• engage or deploy its volunteers;
• provide support or equipment to those volunteers;
• manage its relationship with, or work with, any recognised emergency management body in relation to those volunteers;
• otherwise manage its operations in relation to those volunteers;
The legislation will also provide an ability for volunteers, through bodies such as VFBV, to make submissions to Fair Work Australia in respect of these issues if we have any concerns.
The Enterprise Bargaining Agreement – Key matters of concern
Current Commonwealth industrial law means that if the CFA/United Firefighters Union Enterprise Bargaining Agreement is registered:
• The powers of the Chief Officer will be overridden;
• The union will be given power of veto on issues affecting volunteer based and fully integrated organisation, operations and support;
• Volunteer consultation rights under the CFA Volunteer Charter will be restricted;
• Other clauses in the EBA that are contrary to the CFA Act will apply; and
• Volunteers will be treated as second class just because they are not paid.
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MESSAGE FROM SENATE COMMITTEE CHAIR, SENATOR BRIDGET MCKENZIE Dear CFA Volunteers, Just last week, the Federal Government introduced legislation to protect CFA volunteers from a proposal put forward by the Victorian Government together with the United Firefighters Union. It is apparent that many CFA members think this proposal discriminates against their rights and role as a volunteer. The former Board of the CFA agreed and we re subsequently sacked by the Victorian Government for raising their concerns. The Minister responsible for the CFA, Jane Garrett, was also forced to resign because she could not support the proposal. Given the seriousness of this issue, the Federal Government has acted quickly to introduce legislation that seeks to protect volunteers and bring this dispute to an end. This legislation - the Fair Work Amendment (Respect for Emergency Services Volunteers) Bill 2016 has been referred to the Senate Employment Committee for an inquiry. This inquiry will take submissions from people who have been impacted by the proposal. After considering the submissions, the Committee will then make a recommendation on whether the Parliament should support the legislation. As Chair of this Senate Committee I am inviting you, and other CFA volunteers, to make a submission. Submissions can be as short or as long as you like and can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. The deadline for submission is 12 September 2016. This is your chance to have your say, in your own words. The committee and I look forward to hearing from you. Regards Bridget McKenzie Senator for Victoria Chair, Education and Employment Legislation Committee |
Urgent - Seeking Candidates for CFA Board Positions
*** URGENT ACTION REQUIRED – VFBV MUST PROVIDE A PANEL OF CFA BOARD CANDIDATES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ***
The State Government has dismissed the CFA Board and named five new Board Members. After the announcement, the Government called upon VFBV to provide candidates for the remaining four CFA Board positions, as required under the CFA Act.
We have just received a letter from the Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino, asking that VFBV provide a panel of candidates from which he will chose those four Board Members.
The Act places a time limit on this process, stating that “If the Board of Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria fails to submit a nomination for the purposes of subsection (4) within 30 days after receiving a request from the Minister to submit a nomination, the Governor in Council may after having regard to subsection (2) appoint a person or persons to be a member or members of the Authority for the purposes of subsection (4).”
Accordingly, it is vital that we identify, interview and select suitable candidates as soon as possible.
The CFA Act requires that the four VFBV nominated members include two volunteer members of brigades predominantly serving urban communities and two volunteer members of brigades predominantly serving rural communities as per the CFA Act.
The CFA Act defines the appointment process for CFA Board Members to ensure the CFA Board has the skills and expertise required to operate as a high performing Board; to recognise and reinforce the importance of the Board possessing strong knowledge, expertise and understanding of CFA volunteerism; and prescribes the criteria for appointment to the Board as having knowledge of, or experience in, commercial, technical, operational, legal or financial matters; or expertise in fire or emergency management, land management or any other field relevant to the performance of the functions of the CFA.
CFA volunteers who believe they have the skills, experience and capacity to make a contribution to the Board of the CFA, and ensure that the CFA Board has both strong volunteer expertise, knowledge and an understanding of volunteerism, AND skills in commercial, technical, operational, legal or financial matters, are invited to apply for these vacancies. Past applicants can apply.
The CFA Board meets on a monthly basis and also operates a committee system which could require a commitment of one half day per month. Attendance at official functions is also expected.
Remuneration for a member of the CFA Board currently is $17,314 p.a.
Please disseminate this information through your own networks, and personally provide it to any potential candidates that you know.
The Victorian Government is committed to having Boards that are both highly effective and also reflective of the diverse communities we serve. VFBV shares this commitment. The Premier has expressed an objective for no less than 50% of all future appointments to paid government boards to be women, by November 2018. VFBV is seeking a strong panel of applicants, both men and women who are suitably qualified and experienced for the CFA Board role.
A Role Statement is available for download here (Updated 28 June 2016) or available from the VFBV office. For other relevant information, interested volunteers should contact VFBV at the contact details below.
Applications including a current resume and a summary of your skills, experience and achievements that will enable you to contribute to a CFA Board that requires collectively;
- expertise in commercial, technical, operational, legal and financial matters
- expertise in fire services, emergency management, land management and the functions of CFA, and
- expertise, knowledge and experience in CFA and CFA volunteering,
should be emailed or faxed to VFBV as soon as possible, AND BY NO LATER THAN 1700 HOURS, MONDAY, 4 JULY 2016, to Email: j.laingThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Fax 03 9886 1618.
Queries can be directed to Jenni Laing, on (03) 9886 1141 in the first instance.
Changes to CFA - Limited time for volunteers to comment
Changes to CFA
Limited time for volunteers to comment
STORY UPDATED 6 AUGUST:
Under the name of Creating our Future Together, CFA is proposing significant changes to the way the Regions work and CFA supports Brigades.
CFA is calling for feedback and has now extended the deadline for comment on the proposals to Friday, 30 August, after VFBV expressed concern that volunteers were not being given sufficient time to hear about the changes and consider them.
The proposed changes include;
- Reorganising Districts in to five Regions instead of the current eight
- New Assistant Chief Officers in the roles of Regional Director/Regional Commander
- Changes to the roles of Brigades, Groups, Districts and Regions
- Changes to the way Brigades are supported
- Allocation of resources by workload, not location
CFA says the changes are intended to improve support to Brigades and members, reduce red tape and enable better service delivery.
Please familiarise yourself with the proposals, help spread the word among your fellow volunteers and provide any comments by Friday, 30 August. See below for links to CFA’s information.
If you have any concerns or comments, please raise them through the methods made available by CFA, talk to your State Councillors, call the VFBV office or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The CFA CEO explains the proposals under Creating our Future Together in his blog, here.
URGENT: SURVEY PARTICIPANTS WANTED
VFBV is conducting phone interviews with volunteers
15 to 20 minutes of your time
Help us to reach the individual volunteer
The Jones Inquiry into the Effects of the Arrangements made by CFA on its Volunteers made a recommendation that VFBV consider amending its constitution to enable individual volunteers to be members of our association.
With Department of Justice support under the Valuing Volunteers Program, VFBV has begun to explore priorities and activities to increase our connection with the volunteer as an individual and better meet the future expectations of volunteers. This project will report to the VFBV board with some opportunities for us to embrace into the future.
As part of this project we are conducting informal telephone interviews with CFA volunteers from across the state. It doesn’t matter if you hold a position in your Brigade, are a VFBV delegate or an ordinary Brigade member, we want to speak to anyone who has ideas on how VFBV can increase our engagement with our members.
If you are interested in being part of this project please contact the Project Officer, Kara Bishop, by AUGUST 1ST on 9886 1141 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to arrange a suitable interview time.
