Newsletter - February 2016
Dear ,
Welcome to our monthly newsletter. You can find a print version of this months articles on Page 2 of the February edition of the 'Fireman' newspaper. You can modify your subscriber details by following the 'Subscriber Options' link at the bottom of this email.
Editorial: Meeting the Challenge of a Big Summer By Andrew Ford, VFBV Chief Executive Officer |
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It has already been a big summer, and CFA and with other emergency agencies across
Victoria have been doing what they always do, responding with professionalism and willingness wherever and whenever there has been a need.
The efforts and commitment have been amazing since the early start in November, and along with all other
emergency management sector workers, CFA volunteers continue to do us proud, here and interstate.
These past months have seen some devastating fires in Victoria and across Australia, and our thoughts go out to the families who have lost loved ones,
to everyone who lost homes, livestock, crops other property or their livelihood.
There is much written about the reality that south eastern Australia is one of the most fire prone areas of the world and of the severe fire risk conditions such as
those experienced this summer being a reality of our landscape and climate.
And the reality is that despite some rain in some parts of Victoria in recent weeks, summer is by no means over and the day to day incidents across Victoria will
continue.
CFA’s 60,000 volunteers are essential and core to Victoria’s ability to mobilise and sustain huge numbers of highly trained and experienced crews at multiple major incidents and at the same time retain service capacity for new incidents
elsewhere and back in the local community. And the CFA’s integrated paid and volunteer workforce model is fundamental to sustaining the significant part of this volunteer surge capacity that comes from outer metropolitan Melbourne and provincial centres.
The past months here in Victoria have demonstrated the great capacity of CFA and all of the other agencies involved, and particularly the surge capacity provided by CFA’s huge numbers of trained, experienced volunteers, in front line and supporting roles.
To help people outside of CFA to understand the essential nature and value of CFA’s volunteers and the unique qualities of our CFA volunteer and career members, VFBV has recently released an innovative animated video.
The video has been terrifically well received, with comments online and phone calls and emails to VFBV from volunteers, emergency services staff, the community, community leaders and other decision makers.
The video has
attracted statewide coverage on WIN TV News and in regional newspapers, along with tens of thousands of views on YouTube, Facebook and our website.
If you have not seen VFBV’s video, please take a moment to visit VFBV's YouTube Channel, where you will also find a message of support and thanks from Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett. Copies of the video are being prepared for District Councils and I encourage Brigades to make use of the video direct from the web or contact VFBV for a copy on (03) 9886 1141
or at vfbv@vfbv.com.au
PAYING OUR RESPECTS TO A GOOD FRIEND
Volunteers lost a long standing friend recently, with the passing of former Editor of the Fireman, Alan King, and I would like to express our great respect and sympathy to Alan’s family.
Alan did great work for CFA and volunteers over many decades. He was a friend, advisor and supporter to VFBV and the urban and rural associations before us. Alan was a familiar face at CFA Brigades and events across the state, making many friends and winning the respect of everyone who met him.
Our thoughts are with Merna and Gordon, and rest of the King family. |
Victoria is one of the most fire prone areas in the world, and major fires happen every year.
CFA’s surge capacity, its ability to call on tens of thousands of trained, experienced firefighters at short notice anywhere in the state, is essential to Victoria’s emergency management.
CFA volunteers are part of the community, providing front line emergency response every day and night of the year, and contributing to preparation before and resilience after any major incident.
- The CFA’s huge workforce is almost
60,000 volunteers and 2,600 paid operational and support staff, working with and in support of each other as one integrated team
- CFA Brigades protect 60% of suburban Melbourne, regional cities and all of country Victoria
- CFA Brigades protect 3.3 million
Victorians and one million homes every day and night of the year
- Your local CFA Brigade is much more than 3 or 4 firefighters on duty, it is dozens of trained, experienced volunteer firefighters on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all year round
- Volunteers are more than 95% of Victoria’s firefighting force, CFA has almost 60,000 volunteers and about 1,000 paid firefighters
- Nearly 36,000 CFA volunteers are front line firefighters, and thousands more perform vital support roles like equipment maintenance, fundraising, administration and community education
- Over 20% of CFA volunteers are women, and nearly 5,000 of them are front line firefighters
- CFA volunteers are the unpaid professionals of the emergency services, it takes a nationally recognised qualification to become a CFA volunteer firefighter
- CFA Brigades respond to all manner of emergencies, including fire, flood, industrial/chemical incidents and road accidents
- Many of the most active, experienced firefighters and major incident management personnel in the state are volunteers
- CFA Brigades in Melbourne’s outer suburbs contribute thousands of the volunteers that give CFA the surge capacity to mobilise large numbers of trained, experienced firefighters at short notice to deal with large and long running emergencies
- The 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission said CFA’s surge
capacity, the volunteers’ local knowledge and the ability of CFA volunteer brigades to mobilise a rapid response was a key strength during the Black Saturday fires
- The services provided by CFA volunteers have been valued at close to $1 billion a year
- Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria (VFBV) is the CFA volunteers’ association, and is the voice of CFA volunteers. VFBV’s efforts are driven by a desire for strong volunteerism, embraced to build community resilience for a safer Victoria.
VFBV Video for the Community |
VFBV has prepared a handy,
animated video for everyone to use within CFA and with community groups, community leaders and local media.
The VFBV video tells the story in simple pictures about the huge volunteer surge capacity that allows CFA to call on thousands of trained,
experienced firefighters at any time, the professional levels of training and the wide range of roles that volunteers perform.
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Newly arrived at VFBV are Support Officer Mark Dryden and Policy Project Officer Brendan Jenkins.
Mark (right) is an experienced volunteer who will work with District Councils, Brigades and volunteers in the South East Region to facilitate consultation, issue resolution and volunteer engagement, while VFBV Support Officer Craig Lawless switches to working with the South West Region.
Brendan (left) is the Captain of Moe South Fire Brigade and has served on a number of local government authorities, he will play a vital role helping VFBV to work with volunteers to research issues, develop positions on key issues and advocate those positions to decision makers.
Digital Scanners - The Next Stage |
Orders have closed, for digital scanners provided under the subsidy scheme negotiated by VFBV and CFA, and
any subsidised devices not taken up by Brigades as part of their entitlement of eight units are now being allocated to other Brigades based on their Tier 2 orders.
Once the supply of subsidised units has been exhausted, it is expected the retailer
will commence direct sales as soon as the manufacturing backlog from the subsidy program is cleared.
The subsidy scheme, funded by CFA and a VESEP grant, has been a great success with more than 10,150 devices ordered and distribution to Brigades
beginning shortly after the first batch of 3,500 scanners landed in Australia.
For more information, see the documentation posted to each Brigade or visit the VFBV website.
Where to find Disaster Assistance |
VFBV has prepared a handy Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet that lists State grants and services for
people impacted by bushfires.
The Fact Sheet is intended as an easy reference for Brigades and members helping to support any CFA members or community members who are in need of assistance.
You can download the Fact Sheet here. We extend our congratulations to all CFA members recognised with Australia Day Honours this year.
Volunteers receiving the Australian Fire Service Medal (AFSM) include; Lt Peter Bishop of Mildura, ex Captain Colin Booth of Narre Warren, Graham Healy of Wodonga, ex Captain Colin Squires of Truganina and Captain Darryl Wagstaff of Maryborough. The AFSM has also been
awarded to staff members DCO John Haynes and Senior Station Officer Rick Owen.
CFA
volunteers recognised with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) include; Robert Miles Dare (Eildon), John Willian Diprose (Bulart), Francis Bernard Dullard (Pine Grove), Hon. David Mylor Evans (Moyhu), Roy Mervyn Fox (Yarck), Michael Peter Gardiner (Gisborne), Edward Joseph Gardiner (Gisborne), George Albert McPherson (Myrtleford), Valerie Margaret McPherson (Myrtleford), and Bernard Kennedy Walker (Miepoll).
VFBV’s campaign for fairer and simpler cancer compensation for all Victorian firefighters continues,
and we encourage all Brigades to ask local Members of Parliament for support.
VFBV is calling on MPs from all parties to sign a pledge of support and VFBV delegates and Brigades have met with Government and Opposition MPs. The pledge has been
signed by most Coalition MPs and Greens MP Colleen Hartland, with Shooters and Fishers Party MP Jeff Bourman posting his support on Facebook.
Brigades across the state have posted Facebook pictures of their volunteers with signs calling for equal
cancer law for all Victorian firefighters with no excuses, exclusions or delays.
The State Government has promised legislation this year, but two questions remain unanswered; - Will the legislation be retrospective – if a volunteer is diagnosed with cancer today, will they be protected?
- Will the legislation treat career and volunteer firefighters equally?
There’s more information can be found here. The VFBV State Urban Junior Championships will be at Tatura on 27/28 February 2016 – there
are 79 teams entered, including two from Western Australia. Local Committee contact: Phil Slender 0427 242 875.
The VFBV State Urban Senior Championships will be at Mildura on 12 to 14 March – there are 61 teams entered, including
four from Western Australia. For information, visit www.mildurafirebrigade.com.au
The VFBV State Rural Championships will be at Colac on 2/3 April - forms and entry information can be downloaded from the Championships section of the VFBV website, and entry forms will be forwarded to competing
Brigades.
After field testing by volunteers, the VFBV/CFA Joint Equipment & Infrastructure Committee has endorsed revised specifications for the new Cold
Climate Jackets, and production is now going to tender, with rollout expected to be completed by June this year.
Improvements to the design since the field tests have included looser, more comfortable sleeves, and the addition of orange reflective
tape to prevent the new jackets being mistaken for green nomex structural jackets.
The evaluation included four jackets sent to each District, and the feedback received was overwhelmingly positive.
Stage 1 of this program is being funded through a successful joint CFA/VFBV State Initiative through the 2015 VESEP program and is being conducted in collaboration with the State PPE & C Consultative Committee.
With CFA appointing Regional BASOs to implement parts of the Volunteer Support Program, the VFBV/CFA Joint Training Committee has highlighted the
importance of the original BASO program and the need to continue their direct support to Brigades.
BASOs remain one of the most trusted and respected resources CFA can provide to assist and support Brigades with their ever increasing administrative
and logistical workloads.
The new Regional BASO positions are full time and ongoing, which offers much needed stability, but the VFBV/CFA Joint Volunteerism Committee will continue to monitor the implementation and asks Brigades to provide feedback
and ensure that direct support to Brigades is not only maintained but enhanced & increased.
Download the latest Joint Committee Two Minute Briefings here.
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