Member Services VFBV Volunteer Welfare Fund
Download the VFBV Volunteer Welfare Fund Brochure here
Introduction
The VFBV Welfare 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.
To subscribe to the Welfare Fund, Brigades must be affiliated with VFBV, which covers the operating costs so that any money the Fund receives is used entirely to help volunteers in need.
Public and Corporate donations are welcome. If you would like to donate to the fund please contact the VFBV office on (03) 9886 1141. For more information see the VFBV Welfare Fund Brochure.
The number of CFA Brigades subscribing to the VFBV Welfare Fund has risen steadily in recent years.
Funding
In May 2008, The State Government committed to providing a one off capital injection of $2m. These funds, combined with funds held by the VUFBA Volunteer Welfare Fund which has been providing support to urban volunteers since 1913, have been invested and the return on these investments together with annual subscription fees are used to provide ongoing support to volunteers in need.
The annual contribution fee for Brigades is set annually by the Welfare Fund Committee of Management and approved by the VFBV Board. The setting of the fee may be adjusted either up or down each year to ensure the Fund’s capital base is not eroded.
Key Funding Principles are:
• The Fund must maintain its capital value in real terms
• Brigade contribution fees are essential to the Fund but need to be affordable
Public and Corporate donations are welcome. If you would like to donate to the fund please contact the VFBV office on (03) 9886 1141.
Eligibility
Unforeseen emergencies such as loss of work, family illness or death, accidental injury or even drought or floods, can place significant financial burden on our volunteers.
Brigade membership entitles coverage through the VFBV Welfare Fund to provide assistance for:
• members
• their families, and
• any ex-member of a brigade who was a registered volunteer for 20 years or more
For more information, download a copy of the VFBV Welfare Fund Brochure.
Affiliation and Fees
To be eligible to subscribe to the Fund, each Brigade must be affiliated with VFBV. This is because VFBV meets all of the Fund’s running and administrative costs, so every dollar in subscriptions or donations can be invested, with the earnings from those investments used to help volunteers in need.
Each Brigade receives annual invoices for the VFBV Affiliation Fee and the VFBV Welfare Fund contribution.
BRIGADE CONTRIBUTION FEES
The VFBV Welfare Fund Committee of Management set the brigade contribution fee for 2022/23 year at $70.00 per brigade. No GST is payable.
Brigades wishing to make EFT payments (as opposed to Cheque) should contact the VFBV office on (03) 9886 1141 before initiating the transfer.
Under the Fund's rules, the period of subscription is from 1 July to the following 30 June, with subscriptions required to be paid by 31 December each year to avoid a waiting period.
Application Process
Application for a welfare grant must be completed by the Brigade Captain and the Brigade Secretary on behalf of the claimant. Particulars of the case should be clearly described to enable the Committee to make an informed decision.
Both the Brigade Captain and Secretary are required to finalise the application by providing their recommendation, verification and signature.
Verified applications along with all supporting documentation must be forwarded to the Fund Secretary by the Brigade Secretary.
Applications for welfare grants are determined by the Committee of Management and every decision is final and without appeal.
All applications are kept confidential and processed with the utmost discretion.
APPLICATION FORMS are emailed/posted to the Brigade Captain or Secretary only, in accordance with the Fund Rules, and the accompanying information pack also contains instructions and support information.
Please Note: Application Forms cannot be downloaded from this site. As it is a controlled document, they can only be obtained through contact with the Fund Secretary.
For more information on the Welfare Fund, contact the Welfare Fund Secretary via the VFBV Office on (03) 9886 1141 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
