VFBV

International Volunteer Day is marked each year on 5 December, to recognize and promote the tireless work of volunteers across the world.

International Volunteer Day is an international observance day that was authorized by the United Nations General Assembly in 1985 and it offers an opportunity to promote volunteerism, encourage governments to support volunteer efforts and recognize volunteer contributions.

The theme for International Volunteer Day this year is ‘solidarity through volunteering’. The theme recognizes how volunteers are drawn together, working in solidarity for the benefit of their communities. Volunteering is where compassion meets solidarity. Both share the same root values – supporting each other from a position of trust, humility, respect and equality.

This year’s theme is particularly apt for CFA volunteers, drawn from across the state and frequently coming together and working in solidarity to protect their communities. From the day to day incidents, to the larger campaigns such as this year’s Victorian flooding event that has impacted Victoria since early October 2022. CFA volunteers from across the state have joined with their peers at VicSES and LSV to help those communities in need of assistance. Many of these volunteers were impacted themselves, and yet still came to the aid of their communities.

Since the beginning of October, more than 8,000 CFA volunteers have answered the call to assist with flood rescues and recovery, contributing to more than 11,000 CFA member days of deployments to assist in flood operations and recovery. CFA’s tremendous volunteer surge capacity in action.

The 3V’s project conducted by the VFBV alongside our partners at the Victorian State Emergency Service Association (VicSESVA), Ambulance Victoria, St John Ambulance, the Victorian Council of Churches Emergencies Ministry and Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) conservatively estimated that emergency management volunteers in Victoria contribute between $1.9 to $2.5 billion dollars to Victoria each and every year.

Similarly, VFBV observes the solidarity of CFA volunteers, with volunteers giving up their time to be brigade and group delegates, supporting their fellow volunteers and coming together to form VFBV District Councils, State Council and our Board. Not to mention all our volunteer delegates contributing to working parties and our various CFA/VFBV Joint Committee’s. With these volunteers coming together in solidarity to solving problems and coming up with new ideas to make CFA the world respected fire service it is, and the best possible place to volunteer and work.

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) CEO Adam Barnett said that the contribution of the 55,000 CFA volunteers who come together each and every day to protect Victorians is an amazing testament to the compassion and solidarity of emergency service volunteers.

“CFA volunteers along with other emergency service volunteers in Victoria come together in solidarity each and every day to ensure the safety of all Victorians.” Mr Barnett said.

“CFA volunteers come together with agility, expertise and experience to tackle the most daunting of challenges while also showing great courage, ingenuity, stamina and compassion.”

“We are proud of all our volunteers and acknowledge the incredible work they do every day in keeping their communities safe and building community resilience for a safer Victoria.”

About VFBV: 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.