At the AGM last month we welcomed three new Board Members, Kate Boschetti, Jan Cleary and Rob Auchterlonie. We congratulated Samantha Rothman, Mick Nunweek and Graeme
Jilbert on their reappointment and thanked Hans van Hamond, Jill Parker and Gerry Neyenhuis for their contribution and commitment as they retired from the Board.
VFBV heads into the future with a great diversity of skills and expertise at Board level. This complements our existing dedicated state-wide delegate, District Council and State Councillor teams, and we
are adding to this with the progress we are making with our multi-agency youth network. As we continue to wait for the release of the VEOHRC Independent Review into Equity and Diversity, being held up in the Courts, we do not need to delay action on improving diversity.
With a catch cry of “start today” I reflect on messages provided in a presentation on
improving gender diversity, given at State Council earlier this year. It is important we recognise the potential and contribution women make and, commit, in our male dominated environment, to remove barriers and empower women to become quality leaders and build confidence in themselves. We need to ask ourselves, is the lack of representation of women part of an ingrained culture? A subconscious bias?
In further support of equity and diversity initiatives, the VFBV professional development program “Engaging Diversity” is a key contributor to developing and enhancing the skills of current and future leaders to ensure that diversity is on the agenda, and skills such as communication, leadership, problem solving and strategic thinking are developed in the context of a varied and diverse volunteer workforce. Further details on the course can
be found in this email.
The VFBV Volunteer Welfare and Efficiency Survey, which is still currently open, has in previous year’s results highlighted the importance that volunteers place on opportunities for women, and also to ensuring an inclusive environment when it comes to diversity. The two survey statements relating to these issues are always ranked as
the most important when all the statements are compared. The comments section, unfortunately, sometimes tell a different story where indications are that isolated cases of discrimination or harassment are still occurring. I am reminded of the oft quoted David Morrison – “The standard you walk past, is the standard you accept”. It is just as important to call out inappropriate behaviour when it is witnessed, as it is to not engage in the behaviour
itself.
In the meantime, as we head into a potentially very high risk fire season as advised in the Southern Australia Seasonal Bushfire Outlook last month: “Conditions in Victoria appear likely to increase risk of above normal fire season, with a potentially earlier start in some parts of the State” we are still unsure as to the future structure of fire services
in Victoria. As always, however, volunteers will turn their heads from conflict and ensure the safety of their community is paramount.
I commend brigades as they begin to engage with their communities with fire safety messages and fire preparation planning and meetings in what is anticipated to be a difficult and very busy season. Even though it is only October,
I note that in 2015 there were over 600 fires in October and November which needed four or more brigades to attend, including one fire which had 196 brigades and the involvement of over 1300 volunteers. In 2014, there were almost 500 fires needing this level of response or higher.
The VFBV Welfare and Efficiency Survey highlights most volunteers do what they do
to protect the communities they live in. Volunteering in itself is shown to improve wellbeing and resilience. Please look after yourselves, particularly if the fires start early, and I, as always, thank you for your ongoing commitment and support.
I finish this column with a quote from the Emergency Management Commissioner, Craig Lapsley. I have criticised the
Commissioner in a previous column for his disparaging comments about the CFA, however, there is an area where I am pleased to say we agree:
“We are in this together - government, agencies, communities and business - and go into the summer season knowing we work best when we work collaboratively as a strong, capable sector with a focus on the best outcomes for the
communities we serve.”
