Member Services 
Community Safety Advisory Committee 2 Minute Briefing
Issue 6, 11 August 2013
Quick snapshot of the priority issues and actions worked through at the most recent Joint Committee meeting between CFA and VFBV. (Meeting held 11/08/2013)
PLANNED BURNING PERMITS
Interim results from the recent Planned Burning Survey undertaken by Brigades, continues to highlight the frustration Brigades are experiencing with overly prescriptive permit conditions. The Committee has initiated a review in conjunction with the Vegetation Management Program team to review the wording and language used on CFA’s permit template that is issued to brigades for approved planned burns. Feedback suggests the guidelines stipulated in the permits are being interpreted by many brigades as conditions that must be strictly adhered to, rather than their intended use as guidelines. It is hoped by changing the language on the permits, refining the instructions, and promoting what levels of flexibility are considered compliant within the permit conditions, and will go a long way towards removing the long held perception that the permit conditions are unattainable.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & FIRE AWARENESS STATE FORUM
This year’s State Forum held in the first week of August at Bendigo, was a resounding success, with 300 members from across all 20 CFA Districts, representing 160 brigades across the State attending. Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of respondents marking the forum as Very Good to Excellent. Congratulations to the Member Engagement Team and the volunteer organising committee for a job well done. Thank-you also to all members who attended the forum and shared their stories on what initiatives brigades have implemented to engage with their communities.
COMMUNITY SAFETY PUBLICATION PORTAL LAUNCHED
The committee was very pleased to learn that the requested Publication Portal has now been launched on the CFA website. The portal provides brigades and members of the public with access to over 40 publications and fact sheets that are produced by CFA in one easy to find place. Brigades can now see what publications are available, with a picture of the front page of each to assist with easy identification, and a link to an electronic version of the document. Audio copies of publications are also available for download. Brigades can use the portal to see what publications are available, and can receive printed copies by contacting their local District office. Brigades are urged to refer to the portal when planning for any local community events, and order copies well beforehand to ensure you have the most up to date literature available. The portal can be accessed at; http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/about/publications/
APPAREL OPTIONS
CFA has agreed to progress a review of what apparel options are available for members wishing to be involved in community education. Committee members have been advocating the need to provide volunteers and staff with suitable options that are flexible enough to allow for local variations, but would still present a professional image to the community. The aim is to provide affordable and flexible apparel options to any member who wishes to wear it, and provide volunteers access to any corporate apparel currently available to ensure clothing is not used as a subliminal wedge between paid members delivering community education and local volunteers.
