News 
Issue 13: July 2015
A quick snapshot of the priority issues and actions worked through at the most recent Joint Committee meeting between CFA and VFBV. (Meeting held 21/06/15)
VOLUNTEERISM STRATEGY
With the Volunteerism Strategy now being endorsed, CFA are planning the next steps to implement the plan. The plan outlines ten key initiatives over the five years and early planning has identified four priority initiatives that have been prioritised by CFA for action commencing in 2015/16.
The four priorities over the first twelve months are:
- Implement improved practical, regional support for volunteerism through a Volunteer Support Model.
- Develop and implement targeted youth programs.
- Establish a grass roots Volunteer Leadership and Management Development Program
- Contribute to emergency services sector wide strategic planning and development of volunteerism.
The committee will be looking for feedback from members as to the progress of these priorities and the difference they are having down to a brigade level.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY MEDAL
The National Emergency Medal presentation events around the state were completed as at the end of June 2015. For those that are still to receive their National Emergency Medals, arrangements are to be made at the local level to have members presented at brigade dinners or other functions. Resources that were used at the larger events, will be made available to brigades and districts for further presentations.
BRIGADE MANAGEMENT TEAM WORKSHOPS
The committee was given a presentation on the available brigade management team workshops available to brigades. The committee believes that there is still some work to be done in regard to promoting these workshops and defining their benefits to brigades, especially against other opportunities that are out there for brigades.
VOLUNTEER EXIT SURVEY
The results of the latest Volunteer Exit Survey were presented to the committee, with very similar findings to the last exit survey. However, the results are very limited due to the small number of respondents to the survey. CFA are looking at ways to improve the response rate and the committee put forward several suggestions to improve this to ensure that results in the future are meaningful and can be used effectively.
HONOURS & AWARDS NOMINATORS GUIDE
Committee members were sent a draft copy of the Honours and Awards Nominators Guide to review, which has been developed in consultation with a volunteer reference panel. The guide will be in print by the time this update goes to press. The new guide will eventually be added to the Honours and Awards Manual. The nominators guide is designed to assist brigades in applying for awards and provides some guidance on the kind of information nominators should be seeking and investigating when considering someone for an award. Pleasingly, since the Honours and Awards Manual has been published, there has been a noticeable increase in nominations for awards to recognise volunteers.
