VFBV

Culture, Respect and Vaccines 
By Adam Barnett, VFBV Chief Executive Officer

Many of you would now be aware that last week the Premier announced that all authorised workers must now be vaccinated to continue working onsite. CFA volunteers are included as authorised workers.

The announcement indicates that in order for authorised workers to attend their work location, or in our case this is presumed to mean a CFA location or fireground - you will need to have your first dose by 15 October, and your second dose by the 26 November.

Worryingly – one third of the way through the first deadline we still do not have access to any further information or clarity.

The Chief Health Officer’s orders are not available yet, and we therefore are not in a position to provide any clarity or answer any questions on the logistical side of what this means such as; how it will be implemented; if it will be recorded and by whom; where the onus will lie; and what adjustments are being made to cater for emergency service personnel and their unique working environment.

Our priority continues to be to seek clarity around the directions to assist members understand the implications and options, including what brigades may or may not need to do.

Based on anecdotal observations, we believe that the overwhelming majority of CFA volunteers support vaccination and have been steadily pursuing their jabs for some time now. It was certainly our belief that education, support and encouragement were being very effective at reaching vaccine targets inside CFA in preparation for this year’s fire danger period.

The lack of notice and compressed timeline for mandatory vaccination is certainly presenting its challenges and is confronting for some. Especially for those members who do not have convenient access to a vaccine hub, the ability to get time off from their employer or other pressures unrelated to their emergency service volunteering.

Even if we assume CFA is tracking well above the Victorian public in first and second dose targets, this still leaves a considerable amount of people to try and get through an already stressed and under pressure system in less than two weeks’ time.

We have been requesting clarity on what additional support is being offered to help emergency service personnel access vaccines, and especially volunteer members who have the added complication of the agency they volunteer with not being their employer and therefore not able to support them with time off, or other entitlements and arrangements that a paid workforce routinely have access to.

We are also advocating for additional support, such as mobile hubs and the like especially for remote and regional locations.

Our main focus is on ensuring that we still have sufficient capability left within the emergency management sector to continue dealing with the already increased tempo in operational response as we move into the fire danger period.

And while VFBV strongly encourages vaccination and believes the expert medical advice that the vaccines are safe and effective - as a representative body we also have an obligation to support all members, including those that consider themselves unsure or unwilling to access vaccination.

For these members, we will continue exploring and considering options on how you can best be safely supported during the pandemic. Your service and experience are still very much respected, and we would urge you to not simply resign or walk away.

While we are still awaiting the actual Chief Health Officer orders, our early advice based on previous directions is that mandatory vaccination will not be a condition of membership, but rather a condition of being able to attend a CFA location, incident or fireground. And while this will substantially limit your involvement and contribution for the immediate fire season, we don’t know how long these arrangements will be for, if they are just transitory or how long the State of Emergency may last.

We respect all members right to be informed and urge members to seek expert medical advice should you be undecided or unwilling.

For those that are vaccinated, thank-you.

UNION CAMPAIGN

Unsurprising, there have been many enquiries from members concerned at the firefighter union’s most recent media campaign that started a couple of weeks ago.

Concerns raised with VFBV include; the false insinuation that CFA brigades provide a less service than their FRV counterparts; the misappropriation of the agency brand to try and trick the community into thinking it is an official agency campaign; undermining community safety messaging that Victorian’s must plan for their own safety; attempting to influence an independent panel formed by the government’s own fire service reforms apparently designed to take politicisation out of boundary reviews and the terrible perpetuation of gender and diversity stereotypes that the fire services are collectively trying so hard to address. Where do you start?

We work in a sector that is built on teamwork, professionalism and respect for the skills that each emergency agency and individual member brings to the incident. We rely on each other and depend on the mutual respect we have for each other to get the job done.

For any member of the emergency management fraternity to carry on and thumb their nose towards any other agency, partner or individual is just so incredibly disappointing. And this follows the unprovoked attacks on our fellow SES volunteers just a couple of months ago. To risk relationships, morale and the reputation of our entire sector just to pursue your own industrial agenda and belligerent expansion is incredibly selfish.

At a time when our fellow frontline health workers are doing everything they can to manage our health system, police have the unenviable task of enforcement, paramedics are heroically dealing with a health system pushed to its limits and nurses are tirelessly working double and triple shifts to cover unprecedented demand - it really is just so distasteful to even contemplate that someone thinks its ok to prance around with a self-serving ‘look at moi’ campaign in the midst of an ongoing health emergency.

VFBV will always stand up for our volunteers and will always defend you from those that wish to denigrate or insult the selfless work you do. But by the same token, we are not going to make this a race to the bottom.

To mount some kind of public attack response in reaction only gives the campaign credibility and sends the message that this kind of behaviour is acceptable across the emergency management sector. It isn’t. And we are not going to be a part of any such campaign or tactics that attempts to denigrate our fellow emergency service personnel or agencies.

We will pursue Government and agencies for a public campaign to provide confidence to communities in their volunteer fire services, and we will do so honestly and respectfully without feeling the need to criticise others.

For the record, VFBV respects every other emergency service agency that we work with and alongside. We respect each individual that works within our sector, and we respect and are proud of our career firefighters and our partner fire services and agencies– Fire Rescue Victoria and Forest Fire Management Victoria.

The best thing you can each do is treat the campaign with the contempt it deserves and just ignore it. As far as I’m concerned, it’s an own goal and reflects poorly on anyone who wants to defend or minimise the offence taken by it.

To my fellow volunteers, please don’t let this campaign impact your friendships and respectful relationships with your local career firefighters. We have received just as many calls of concern from them as we have from volunteers. The union wants you to be mistrusting of each other, they mine that cynicism and sow those seeds of fear to try and portray us at each other’s throats to rally their troops to whatever the latest campaign is.

The public has never questioned your professionalism, and the best way you can prove it is to hold your heads high, keep performing the incredible work you are already doing and continue to model what it really means to be a true professional within our emergency management sector. We strive to be inclusive, respectful and diverse. Professionalism describes a person’s conduct, skill, competence, values and qualities. The existence of a pay cheque simply proves you are paid - not whether you are professional or not.

CULTURE REVIEW

VFBV has welcomed the announcement by CFA of the commissioning of Dr Szoke to help lead a review into how to further strengthen CFA’s systems and approaches to ensure CFA becomes the exemplar of healthy, safe and respectful workplaces across the fire sector.

We are fully supportive of this review, and the concept has been the subject of much discussion for some time now. As you would be aware through previous comms, the VFBV Board and State Council have both been advocating very strongly in trying to resolve the VEOHRC impasse and improve and strengthen CFA process regarding complaint management, and ensuring all our workplaces are safe and respectful.

Dr Helen Szoke AO is the former Commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Dr Szoke will bring unparalleled credibility and expertise to the role. Most recently Dr Szoke has completed an independent review on behalf of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, where she considered measures to prevent sexual harassment, improve reporting and improve support for those who experience sexual harassment in Victoria Courts and VCAT.

And, just like our courts, CFA Volunteers likewise expect their workplaces and fire stations across the sector to provide safe and welcoming environments that live up to the exceptionally high and professional standards displayed and modelled by CFA members every day in protecting their communities from fire and other emergencies.

This review will give CFA a solid baseline and framework to strengthen and support the vital goal of promoting diversity and ensuring all our members feel safe and have access to robust systems of accountability. A fire service where victims are supported, and all members are encouraged to speak up about the importance of a safe and respectful workplace.

I want to acknowledge the disappointment and hurt by all those members who feel let down and abandoned by the previous VEOHRC process. And while VFBV has staunchly advocated for VEOHRC to be involved and be asked to complete the work they started, we acknowledge that CFA cannot continue to be held hostage to a process that has seemingly lost Government and VEOHRC support and has been relentlessly bogged down in legal and political fights.

As reports into Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, the Australian Defence Forces and the Victorian Public Sector have shown, these are complex and confronting topics to tackle. But by doing so, we set the example and raise the bar for all others to follow. VFBV accepts its leadership role to support this work and be part of that change.

We will be supporting Dr Szoke and any members who wish to contribute to her work. We will shortly be meeting with the review team and will keep members informed on how you can contribute to the review. Take care and stay tuned.

Open for Consultation
CFA has commenced consultation on a number of important documents including the new CFA Behavioural Standards; a new Child Safety Behavioural Statement; and amendments to the Child Safety and Protection Business Rule.

The Fire District Review Panel has also commenced consultation on their proposed risk assessment methodology by way of a discussion paper.

VFBV is seeking broad feedback and comment from volunteers in order to inform and assist with VFBV formal responses to these documents. VFBV District Councils have also been invited to lead local discussion at the District level.

Copies of relevant documents and timelines are all available via your local District Council or our website.

AFSM Nominations

 Nominations for the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) for the 2022 Queen’s Birthday honours list are now open.

The award recognises those whose service is above and beyond the normal zealous and faithful discharge of normal or ordinary service, either in the short or long term. While volunteers are often modest and reluctant to seek out recognition for their exceptional contributions protecting lives and property, nominating a fellow volunteer to recognise their contribution is a way to say ‘thank you’ to those people who have stepped up and helped to inspire other volunteers.

A helpful guide to preparing nominations is available from the VFBV and CFA websites. Nominations need to be submitted to CFA by 1 November 2021. 

Pre-register for survey
This year’s VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey is about to open. Volunteers can pre-register now to ensure you are amongst the first to be notified of this year’s survey.

Register here or via the QR code below.

 
Joint Committee EOI
Expressions of interest are now open for volunteers to nominate as subject matter experts to the VFBV/CFA Joint Committee’s for the 2022 calendar year.

If you feel you can contribute and have the time, are passionate about one of the seven streams and want to be an integral part of our Joint Committee process – then please talk to your local VFBV State Councillor or VFBV Support Officer for a nomination form. Nominations are due to your District Council early November 2021.

Our Community, Our CFA
Members are encouraged to visit the VFBV website to view the ‘Our Community Our CFA’ video that celebrates Victoria’s iconic CFA, one of the largest, most diverse and most professional emergency services in the world. The video demonstrates the skilled, professional and diverse range of skills and value that CFA volunteers selflessly make to the safety of all Victorians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fire Wise – October 2021 online only edition

The October 2021 edition of Fire Wise has been published online only, this edition and past editions are available from the Fire Wise website.

You can support Fire Wise and the role it plays as an independent voice in keeping volunteers informed by becoming a subscriber. To become a Fire Wise subscriber visit the Fire Wise website or contact the Managing Editor of Fire Wise, Gordon Rippon-King either by phone 0402 051 412 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 
Recent articles on the VFBV website
Open for Consultation 

VFBV Statement – Volunteers Welcome Independent Review 

CFA Volunteer Surge Capacity 

Our Community, Our CFA 

VFBV Statement on UFU Campaign 

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The following items are currently open for consultation, and and your feedback is being sought.

Members are encouraged to review any of the items below and provide feedback/comment and/or suggestions ASAP.  

We encourage members not to wait until deadlines to provide feedback, but rather provide it as early as possible which will give us a chance to conduct further research that may assist us being able to advocate more strongly for your desired outcome.

All feedback is used to inform and influence formal VFBV positions as well as used to influence CFA positions and thinking during the deliberative process. If we need to use your feedback to demonstrate or illustrate the views of members, your personal details will not be shared with CFA, and feedback will always be de-identified to protect your privacy.

If members have provided feedback directly to CFA, you are requested to please forward a copy of your feedback through VFBV channels as well - as often times we will be able to support and assist with advocacy as well as influencing formal VFBV positions on various items.

All members are welcome and encouraged to provide feedback.

How to provide feedback:

It would be preferred that members provide feedback ASAP, so that it can be received incrementally, allowing us enough time to consolidate, identify trends and research issues raised by members. 

Feedback can be provided via:

1. Emailing to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
   
   
2. Your local VFBV District Council or your local VFBV Support Officer
   
   
3. By Post: 9/24 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East VIC 3151
   
   
4. By Fax: (03) 9886 1618

Feedback does not need to be long or detailed, but if you do have the time to make substantive comment that is always welcome.

If you generally support a principle or policy, then a quick note letting us know would also be helpful. Similarly, let us know if you do not support it, or which aspects of it you don't support.

Where indicating non-support, it would be helpful to understand the key reasons why, and even a couple of brief bullet points would be adequate. Likewise, if you would prefer to provide a more detailed response, or mark-up and suggest changes to the documents, all that would be welcome also.

Your feedback will assist us form a VFBV position and response to the proposed changes and help us advocate on behalf of CFA volunteers. Please consider getting involved, and providing us your feedback ASAP.

Please remember to provide feedback in support as well as against. If we only hear from those who are against, it will be harder to determine the general comfort level of members with the proposals.

CFA Behavioural Standards This behavioural standard sets out the required standards of behaviour for all CFA Members, Officers and contractors. It is intended to cover everyone under one Standard and compliments the Volunteer Code of Conduct (Volunteers) and the Victorian Public Sector Code of Conduct (Employees). Draft CFA Behavioural Standard is provided for feedback/comment. Downloads: CFA Behavioural Standards
Child Safety Behaviour Statement CFA is required to act in compliance with the Child Safe Standards governed by the Commission for Children and Young People. Standard 2 requires that organisations have a child safe code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children. To avoid confusion with existing codes of conduct, the Commission agreed some time ago that calling it a Behaviours Statement instead of a code of conduct would be appropriate. The purpose of the document is to set out behaviours that are acceptable and those that are not, to promote the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.  DRAFT Statement is provided for feedback/comment. Downloads: Child Safety Behaviour Statement
Child Safety and Protection Business Rule This Child Safety and Protection Business Rule is a set of practical rules designed to ensure compliance with the Child Safety Executive Policy and the child safety principles contained therein. The strict enforcement of the Child Safety Executive Policy allows CFA to embed child safety compliance within its programs, policies and processes. DRAFT Business Rule is provided for feedback/comment. Downloads: Child Safety and Protection Business Rule
Fire District Review Panel: Proposed Risk Assessment Methodology Discussion Paper As part of Victoria’s fire services reform, the independent Fire District Review Panel (the Panel) has been established to undertake reviews of the Fire Rescue Victoria (FRV) fire district boundaries at least once every four years and at the request of the Minister for Emergency Services. The attached Risk Assessment Methodology Discussion Paper outlines the proposed risk assessment methodology that will underpin the conduct of these reviews. The discussion paper is attached and members are invited to provide feedback on the proposed risk assessment methodology to help inform VFBV's formal response. Downloads: Proposed Risk Assessment Methodology Discussion Paper

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria welcomes today’s announcement by CFA of the commissioning of Dr Szoke to help lead a review into how to further strengthen CFA’s systems and approaches to ensure CFA becomes the exemplar of healthy, safe and respectful workplaces across the fire sector.

Dr Helen Szoke AO has served as Australia’s Federal Race Discrimination Commissioner and is the former Commissioner of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Dr Szoke will bring unparalleled credibility and expertise to the role. Most recently Dr Szoke has completed an independent review on behalf of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, where she considered measures to prevent sexual harassment, improve reporting and improve support for those who experience sexual harassment in Victoria Courts and VCAT.

Just like our courts, CFA Volunteers likewise expect their workplaces and fire stations across the sector to provide safe and welcoming environments that live up to the exceptionally high standards displayed and modelled by CFA members every day in protecting their communities from fire and other emergencies.

Our members deserve to be supported and protected by world class systems, policies and processes that provide every single volunteer and staff member with a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination.

Dr Szoke has been requested to  undertake an independent review of what more the CFA can do to support and create a welcoming, inclusive and supportive organisation which embraces diversity and deals effectively with cultural issues when they do arise.    

This commitment and review is fully supported by VFBV and delivers on our strong advocacy for CFA’s systems and complaint processes to be independently reviewed and improved to reflect the high standards that CFA members expect.

While this should have been completed years ago through the previous Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission review into the MFB and CFA, we are proud that CFA will take this courageous step to free itself from Government and sector inertia and forge ahead with its own work that will lead to CFA becoming the largest, safest and best practice firefighting organisation in Victoria.

We acknowledge the disappointment and hurt by all those members who feel abandoned by the previous VEOHRC process and the injustice of their stories and complaints never seeing the light of day. And while VFBV has staunchly advocated for VEOHRC to be involved and be asked to complete the work that was started, we acknowledge that CFA cannot continue to be held hostage to a process that has seemingly lost Government and VEOHRC support and has been relentlessly bogged down in legal and political fights.

This review will give CFA a solid baseline and framework to strengthen and support the vital goal of promoting diversity and ensuring all our members feel safe and have access to robust systems of accountability. A fire service where victims are supported, and all members are encouraged to speak up about the importance of a safe and respectful workplace.

As the 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics personal safety survey reports, two in five people aged 18 years and over have experienced sexual harassment during their lifetime. Women are more than twice as likely to experience sexual harassment than men.  Fire services are not immune to the issues faced across the broader community and public sector. But this should not be used as a reason to avoid or confront the issue head on.

As reports into Victoria Police, Ambulance Victoria, Australian Defence Forces and the Victorian Public Sector have shown, these are complex and confronting topics to tackle. But by doing so, we set the example and raise the bar for all others to follow. VFBV accepts its leadership role to support this work and be part of that change.

CFA members, volunteers and staff spend their lives and careers protecting the safety and putting their fellow Victorians ahead of themselves. They deserve no stone to be unturned when it comes to- ensuring they themselves are protected and have safe and respectful workplaces.

VOLUNTEERS DISMISS UNION PROPAGANDA

Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria notes with disappointment the commencement of yet another UFU TV and print campaign that attempts to scare and mislead the public.

VFBV rejects the unions divisive campaign, and reminds Victorians that all firefighters are professional, including those that choose not to be paid. We work as one and we respect one another.

To choose a term to headline their campaign that they know volunteer firefighters will find insulting just illustrates the divisive and disrespectful approach of the UFU towards Victoria’s 55,000 strong CFA volunteer first responders.

Alarmingly, the campaign appears to be an obvious attempt to influence and politicise the Governments ‘independent’ fire district review panel to try and initiate a further review of fire district boundaries before the next election. A tired argument with no other goal than to further expand the union’s membership across regional Victoria.

Of significant concern is the campaign message that Victorian’s do not need to be prepared for an emergency because the State’s small paid workforce will somehow be there. This is the opposite of changes made since Victoria’s 2009 Black Saturday Royal Commission that urged agencies and Governments to support and encourage all Victorians to prepare for emergencies and take an active part in their own and their family’s safety.

It is an irresponsible and dangerous message that demonstrates how out of touch the union is on how to build safer and more resilient communities.

All of Victoria’s firefighters (volunteer and paid) have been working hard over the last twelve months to rebuild respect and courtesy between agencies and each other - regardless of the badge on the side of the fire truck. VFBV is proud of our career firefighter brothers and sisters and rejects any provocation that attempts to pit firefighter against firefighter.

To return to the politics of the past and try to stoke peoples fear and anxiousness on the eve of a fire season is concerning behaviour but aptly demonstrates the perception that the union cannot change and is simply unwilling to work collaboratively with others. It is an insult to all firefighters and displays an ugly and selfish side of a small militant union desperately trying to redeem itself and its image after years of self-inflicted controversy.

CFA volunteers have stood by Victorians during their darkest days and will not be distracted from preparing for this year’s fire danger period. They will stand united against such unprovoked attacks.

CFA volunteers have continued to engage with communities, run community education campaigns, and essential firefighter training and skills maintenance right through the COVID pandemic. They are highly trained and highly professional.

As Victoria’s largest, and most diverse fire service – CFA volunteers selflessly respond to structure fires, bush fires, industrial fires, HAZMAT incidents, road accident rescue, and other highly specialised incidents including co-responding with ambulance Victoria to emergency medical incidents.

The respect and trust of the Victorian community in CFA and CFA volunteers is well earned over many decades of service and built on actions and deeds - not words or fancy PR stunts.

CFA volunteers stand by Victorian communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Together, we are building a safer and more resilient Victoria standing united with our communities against the threat of emergencies and other natural disasters. You can be confident in CFA and CFA volunteers.

As volunteers ourselves - we are proud of our communities and proud of our community-based fire brigades located across 1,217 communities right across Victoria. We work with and for the communities we are based in. Victoria’s emergency management volunteers contribute $2.5 billion dollars of value to Victoria every year.

CFA volunteers – proud to serve.

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.