VFBV

VFBV delegates and officials are working with affected Brigades to access support available through the VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust Fund and VFBV Welfare Fund. With the large number of members directly impacted, we are expecting high demand.

VFBV is supporting CFA volunteers who have lost their homes, fencing, machinery, stock, equipment and/or livelihoods. At this time, our preference is that donations are made to the VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust (below)

Members of the public are invited to donate to the following:

VFBV Volunteer Support and Recovery Trust Fund

Donate at: https://www.givenow.com.au/volunteersupport 

This fund is currently assisting CFA volunteers impacted by the 2019/20 Bushfire Season.

The VFBV Volunteer Support & Recovery Trust fund (formerly Black Saturday Recovery Trust Fund) was established in 2009 following the Black Saturday fires to provide assistance to CFA volunteers who had suffered loss as a result of the Victorian Black Saturday Fires.

This fund is established to respond to significant natural disasters impacting on CFA volunteers, and is receiving donations to support CFA volunteers who have been directly impacted by the 2019/2020 Bushfires.

It provides swift one-off grants to help CFA volunteers recover from loss of life, loss of home, and loss of outbuildings, fencing, stock, livelihood and any other impacts.

Following Black Saturday, it has awarded over $880,000 in grants to CFA volunteers and their families.

VFBV covers all administration fees, and 100% of funds received are used for the payment of volunteer grants.

Donate at: https://www.givenow.com.au/volunteersupport or Direct Deposits can be sent to the following account: 

If you email details of your deposit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a receipt can be arranged.

VFBV Welfare Fund

Donate at: https://www.givenow.com.au/vfbv 

This fund is current assisting CFA volunteers impacted by the 2019/20 Bushfire Season.

The VFBV Welfare Fund was first established in 1913. Over the years, the Fund has helped close to 1,200 volunteers, with more than $1.8 million in grants, and today more than 1,000 CFA Brigades subscribe to the Fund each year. Brigades choose each year whether or not they would like to be members of the fund by paying an annual subscription which then covers all their members, families and long serving ex-members. Almost 90% of all CFA Brigades are members of the VFBV Welfare Fund. 

This capital Fund offers small grants to CFA volunteers, long serving former volunteers and their families, who are experiencing significant financial hardship.  Typical cases involve prolonged illness, bereavement, loss of earnings, or the accommodation and travel costs associated with supporting a relative in hospital.

The Welfare Fund is a capital fund run under Australian Tax Office rules, independently audited, uses only State Government approved investments, and the welfare grant and investment decisions are made by a committee of long serving CFA volunteers. Investments are managed to provide an enduring fund that has existed since 1913 and ensures volunteers now and in the future are protected by fund income that outperforms inflation and minimises annual brigade subscriptions for each member brigade now and for the future.

History

The Fund began its long history of helping volunteers in need in 1913, when it was first established by urban volunteers as the VUFBA Welfare Fund.

On 1 November 2008, the newly formed Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria, with generous support from the Victorian Government, launched the VFBV Welfare Fund and invited all Urban and Rural Brigades to become members.

Over the years, the Fund has helped close to 1,200 volunteers, with more than $1.8 million in grants, and today more than 1,000 CFA Brigades subscribe to the Fund each year.

For the 2018/2019 financial year, the VFBV Welfare Fund distributed a total of $96,735 to assist 30 volunteers in need.

The Fund offers small grants to CFA volunteers, long serving former volunteers and their families, who are experiencing significant financial hardship.  Typical cases involve prolonged illness, bereavement, loss of earnings, or the accommodation and travel costs associated with supporting a relative in hospital.

The Welfare Fund is run under Australian Tax Office rules, independently audited, uses only State Government approved investments, and the welfare grant and investment decisions are made by a committee of long serving CFA volunteers.

Investments are managed to provide an enduring fund that has existed since 1913 and ensures volunteers now and in the future are protected by fund income that outperforms inflation and minimises annual brigade subscriptions for each member brigade. 

To subscribe to the Welfare Fund, Brigades must be affiliated with VFBV, which covers the operating costs so that 100% of any money the Fund receives is used entirely to help volunteers in need. 

VFBV covers all administration fees, and 100% of funds received are used for the payment of volunteer grants.

Donate

People wishing to donate to the Welfare Fund they can do so by:

Online donations can be done via GiveNow: https://www.givenow.com.au/vfbv 

Or Direct Deposits can be sent to the following account: 

If you email details of your deposit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a receipt can be arranged.

VFBV Volunteer Support and Development Fund

Donate at: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/134529/supporting-valuing-cfa-volunteers 

The VFBV Volunteer Support & Development Fund was established following the Black Saturday fires principally following two large corporate donations to support VFBV’s advocacy work from Darley Australia and the Victoria Racing Club in 2009.

This is an internal fund and is managed by the VFBV Board and operates on a hybrid model of a capital and operating basis. Deposits are principally held in interest bearing term deposits to provide a capital base, with annual investment income used to support VFBV programs including initiatives such as our emergency management volunteer leadership scholarships. This ensures the fund is capable of looking after future generations of CFA volunteer firefighters. During periods of high advocacy (such as during the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission and the 2016 Supreme Court action to uphold CFA volunteer consultation rights) funds are drawn down from the capital reserves to meet costs essential in protecting and supporting our important advocacy work.

VFBV is established under the Country Fire Authority Act and is the peak body for CFA Volunteers in Victoria. VFBV works tirelessly to represent, advocate and support CFA volunteers to the CFA Board and management, governments, ministers, members of parliament, councils, instrumentalities, business and the public. Our vision is for Strong Volunteerism, Embraced to Build Community Resilience for a Safer Victoria.

Donate

People wishing to donate to the VFBV Volunteer Support and Development Fund can do so by:

Online donations can be done via: https://www.mycause.com.au/page/134529/supporting-valuing-cfa-volunteers 

Or Direct Deposits can be sent to the following account: 

If you email details of your deposit to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. a receipt can be arranged.