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CFA News (62)
Have Your Say on: CFA's Fire & Emergency Management (F&EM) Training Strategy
Online for the past four weeks, the CFA-run survey provides volunteers and staff from all districts an opportunity to share their feedback on the strategy.
The survey closes at midnight on Friday 31 July 2015.
CFA Executive Manager Training Development James Stitz says “Completing the survey only takes five minutes, but plays a major role in helping us monitor performance and improve what we do.”
"So far we have had over 550 responses. Thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to complete it. If you haven’t had a chance yet, there is still time to have your say.”
Members are asked to do the survey online. If you would prefer a paper-based version, it can be downloaded here.
Printed surveys can be submitted to Liza Gelt, OT&V, by post (16 Lakeside Drive, Burwood East VIC 3151) or email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).
Please also contact Liza if you have any queries regarding accessing or submitting the survey.
Australian National Fire Cadet Championships
CFA will participate in the 2015 Australian National Fire Cadet Championships, to be held in New South Wales during the September school holidays.
They are seeking applications from registered junior members aged 14 and 15 years, as well as endorsed junior leaders, to represent CFA at the championships.
Applicants do not require previous championships/competition experience, as the NSW events are not based on CFA running events.
This opportunity will involve members travelling to Sydney to engage in a series of team building and group development activities, as well as participating in the ANFC Championships.
Please see the attached flyer for information on the Championships and application process.
Further information and application forms can be found at http://www.cfa.vic.gov.au/volunteer-careers/junior-volunteers/ or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Applications close, Friday 7 August 2015.
Brigade life membership (ribbon colour)
At the June 2015 CFA Honours & Awards Committee meeting, it was determined that the ribbon and ribbon bar for the Brigade Life Membership (Life Member Jewel) must be the colour red (Pantone Code PMS 186).
The Committee determined that a standardised ribbon colour is required for all future Brigade Life Member Medals.
To see the full story or post a comment on the CFA News & Media site, click here.
Recall of tree marking aerosol
FROM THE CFA CHIEF OFFICER
- Please contact CFA if you have any queries
Recent safety advice has prompted DELWP and CFA to immediately recall DY-MARK Mine Marking aerosol paint used to mark hazardous trees on the fireground and during planned burning operations.
This recall is being undertaken as a safety precaution following a risk assessment on the contents of this aerosol paint.
It has been determined DY-MARK Mine Marking Aerosol contains methylene chloride which has been listed in Safe Work Australia’s Hazardous Substance Information System as having ‘carcinogenic potential’. DY-Mark aerosols are included in Hazardous Tree Marking Kits which are standard in most firefighting appliances, particularly those in regional areas.
To ensure we maintain the health and safety of our members, the use of this product must cease immediately and all cans recalled. It is to be removed from all CFA vehicles and stored away from any access areas.
Each brigade should return these cans of paint to their district headquarters where they will be transferred to be destroyed in a safe and environmentally responsible manner.
In general, the use of the paint would be very uncommon within CFA. It is used to mark hazardous trees in open, ventilated areas and CFA members would also be wearing PPC and therefore be protected from exposure to the spray. A safe alternative is being investigated as a replacement.
While this product is commercially available and widely used across various industries, as a further precaution medical advice was obtained which has indicated:
- that there is minimal risk from the correct use of this product
- agencies use this product to mark a tree in the open air where maximum ventilation is present allowing dispersal of any fumes or vapours
- its use involves very short spray bursts to mark the tree.
Further, we will keep brigades informed of this safety recall and share any additional information as it comes to hand.
Have Your Say on the CFA F&EM Training Strategy Survey
After a successful response in 2014, CFA is once again asking members to provide their feedback and thoughts on the F&EM Training Strategy and its progress in 2015.
James Stitz, Manager of Training & Delivery said: “This survey is an important part of the annual review to measure CFA’s performance against the Training Strategy.”
The strategy was approved by the CFA Board in June 2013 and released to members in July 2013. Since then Operational Training & Volunteerism (OT&V) has been working hard to deliver on a range of strategy actions.
“I’m seeking five minutes input from everyone to enable us to monitor performance and improve what we do,” Mr Stitz said.
Supported by other data analysis, the survey results will be used to assess performance against the baseline results established last year.
The survey is available for members to complete online (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/TrainingStrategySurvey2015). Alternatively, members may also download and print a paper copy of the survey from Brigades Online (at Training > Strategy > F&EM Training Strategy). The survey is currently open for your input, and will be closed midnight Friday 31 July 2015.
Prototype Heavy Tanker Roadshow
The statewide roadshow tour of the 2015 Heavy Tanker prototype is now in its last days. See www.cfa.vic.gov.au or talk to your Ops Manager or ACO for the remaining locations.
The tour is based on the successful roadshow tours of the Medium Tanker and Medium Pumper, and the VFBV/CFA Joint Equipment and Infrastructure Committee encourages Brigades to attend and provide comments.
All feedback will be reviewed by the Committee and will inform the final Heavy Tanker design.
There's more on the prototype Heavy Tanker and the tour, at CFA News & Media
Annual Memorial Service
All members and families are invited to the Annual Memorial Service for Firefighters on Sunday, 3 May 2015, at 2.00 pm.
The service will be held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, 3 Lyons Street, Ballarat, VicRoads Map 566 Ref C8.
The dress code is CFA uniform or smart casual, and anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by Thursday, 16 April 2015, via email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1800 232 636.
Uniforms - Have Your Say Now
The CFA Chief Officer has released his Uniform Discussion Paper, with feedback and comment due no later than Friday, 17 April.
This issue has been going on for some time and VFBV has been pressing for a result, so we urge Brigades and individual volunteers to make comment direct to CFA as soon as possible (see below).
VFBV has supported the Chief Officer’s decision to release his initial thoughts and position before making a final decision, with a reasonable period for comment by members. We feel this is an open and transparent process that enables informed decision making, and gives all members the opportunity to advocate their position, and influence the final decision. VFBV respects the final decision being that of the CFA Chief Officer.
VFBV has for some time pressed for one uniform design for all CFA members (paid and unpaid) that supports the ‘One CFA’ principle. VFBV has also pressed for volunteers who meet the service requirement for a uniform and wish to have one, to be supplied with a uniform funded by CFA.
VFBV at the state level will likely be providing a submission on the discussion paper. The submission is likely to stick to general principles regarding fairness and equity, so we urge Brigades and individual volunteers to have their say on the details.
Feedback can be provided by all members via http://cfa.engagementhq.com/cfa-uniform-position
Now is the time to speak up on uniforms, so discuss this with your Brigade and fellow volunteers, and you are encouraged to send a copy of any submission to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
UPDATED - Good News on Service Awards
UPDATED 10 April 2015 - Answers to volunteers' questions
Download the FAQ sheet below
CFA has moved to drop the service award upgrade kits that have been in use since 2008 - volunteers reaching milestones such as 15, 20 and 25 years’ service will now receive a complete new service medal, ribbon bar and lapel badge to replace their old one.
The upgrade kits required the member to have a new bar sewn onto their existing medal ribbon, and were seen by many members as an inappropriate way to recognise such significant service to CFA and their communities.
VFBV has been working with CFA for some time now, advocating our desire for the awarding of complete medals and not expecting members to sew on their own medal bars. VFBV is grateful to CFA for approving this request, and agreeing to fund it, as we believe this change to be a significant improvement to the way long serving members are recognised.
This change will be automatic for all new medals awarded as of now.
For any questions or feedback, email: cfa‐This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 1800 232 636.
Frequently Asked Questions (Provided by CFA)
From the 1st May 2015, members eligible for Service Awards (including Life Members) will now receive a full award set in place of the service award upgrade kits which were introduced to CFA in 2008.
1. Will members who have their medals court mounted need to have them re-mounted every five years to incorporate the newly award medal?
No, members will not have to have their medals re-mounted. Medal mounting companies may purchase clasps for the main size medal directly from CFA at $2.00 each +GST. This would mean that the member could keep the newly presented award set in full. The medals which are mounted can then be updated with the clasp of the appropriate years of service.
Rosettes for the ribbon bars are also available for purchase at $1.10 each +GST.
2. Will members be required to return their previous medal?
No, members who have previously received CFA Service Awards or Life Member award may keep them and do not have to return them to CFA. Upgrade kits that were previously awarded will not be recalled.
3. Will other members get my second hand award set?
No, second hand award sets will not be presented to members. Each member is eligible for a new award set at each anniversary date.
4. Do members have to remove their previously awarded service medal?
Yes, Brigades are required to ensure that members remove past service awards at the presentation of the new service award. In accordance with CFA tradition, the new award/medal replaces the previous service medal. It is not appropriate to wear multiple CFA service medals at the same time. Further information on wearing honours, please refer to the ‘How to wear Honours and Awards’ booklet which is available through Brigades Online.
File path: Brigades Online > Brigade > Service History & Awards > About the Awards
5. Will members who have previously received the upgrade kit be retrospectively awarded a full award set?
No, Members will receive the full award set at their next anniversary date from 1st May 2015 onwards. Members are to continue to utilise the upgrade kits until they will be awarded the full award set at their next anniversary date.
Water Sampling Concludes at Fiskville - CFA
CFA has announced that water sampling has concluded at Fiskville and the results are expected within the next week.
More...
National Terrorism Threat Level for Police Raised to HIGH
The Australian Federal Police have raised the National Terrorism Threat Level for police officers to “HIGH”.
However, Victoria Police advise that there is no change to the threat level for firefighters, which remains at “LOW”.
Click here to see the CFA Chief Officer's advice to all members;
Useful new Admin and Promotional Tools for Brigades
New additions to CFA’s Template Toolkit will help you with fundraisers, community meetings, letters, recruiting and publicity.
They include;
- A new Events Materials Booking System
- Updated letterheads
- Poster, flyer and media templates
- Style guides for design and writing
- Media release and agenda templates
- ‘How To’ and help guides
Check them out at CFA Online, at;
http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=corporateMaterials
and
http://cfaonline.cfa.vic.gov.au/mycfa/Show?pageId=templateToolkit
VFBV and Brigades were involved in initial design stage of the CFA Template Toolkit, which contains a variety of items that are useful and easy to use.
Invitation - 'Jubilation' Christmas event
You are invited to:
‘Jubilation’ Christmas event, 12-14 December
Please join us to celebrate the spirit of Christmas at this inaugural event at Docklands.
What makes this such a special Christmas event is that the organisers from Destination Docklands have decided to use this as an opportunity to thank CFA’s members, by raising money for CFA’s Volunteer Fund.
The benefits for CFA are two-fold: not only will CFA members be acknowledged for the work they do; it is also a chance for us to promote summer fire safety messages to a Melbourne audience ahead of the holiday season.
A CFA Zone will be set up with activities including trivia, rescue demonstrations, junior brigade running drills and hose rolling, and Australian Volunteer Coast Guard members will also be exhibiting their boats. So come down and support those participating. Or, if you’d like to help out on the stand, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by next Tuesday.
Other free activities include:
- Live music (including Kayla Dwyer, CFA member from Koroit, The Red Austins)
- Santa and Captain Koala appearances
- Roving entertainers
- Markets
- Lighting show
Dates: Friday 12, Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December
Time: 5pm – 10pm each day
Where: Harbour Esplanade, Victoria Harbour Docklands, Melbourne
Draft CFA Volunteerism Strategy – consultation extended to 19 December
Consultation with CFA members throughout November has been active with a number of regional forums held across the state.
Feedback from member has also been provided via email, mail and CFA’s website. Contributions are still encouraged, with the deadline extended to 19 December 2014.
Member feedback has also been provided through a new online service for CFA which allows members to share their views, provide comments and join discussions online. The link is:
http://cfa.engagementhq.com/cfa-draft-volunteerism-strategy
Regional forums have been great, with a diverse range of views and ideas being shared. Some of the key themes discussed have included:
- Attracting and retaining younger members
- The importance of good leaders and great ‘people skills’ at CFA, across all levels
- Declining community understanding of volunteer brigades and shared responsibility for fire risk
- How to measure ‘success’ of the Strategy at brigade level
- The need to make sure that the Strategy is ‘more than just words’
- Valuing senior members and retaining their skills and experience
- The impact and expectations of time available for training – keep it simple
- Trusting, respecting and utilising volunteers
- The role that CFA and government can play in fighting for and investing in volunteerism
- The importance of letting local brigades serve local communities in the best way for that community
- Getting the culture of CFA right
- Working with employers – addressing declining employer support for volunteer activity
- The need for a modern approach to CFA’s brand in the community
At the end of the consultation period, outcomes will be collated and shared, and will go on to shape development of the final strategy.
The final Strategy will be presented to CFA’s board in early 2015.
